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1、AbstractThe Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingways last major work, is regarded as the most important work of Hemingways writing principle and classical one for its literary value. The novel can be read on more than one level of meaning, which contributes to the success of the novel. It is an exciti

2、ng but tragic adventure story. The application of symbolism decides the creation of the characters in the novel. Hemingway describes a vivid image of the tough man, Santiago, who has the unconquerable spirit of man. It also expounds the attitude of the authors and the writing. This research paper co

3、ncentrates on the heroism of Santiagos manhood in the “The Old Man and The Sea”. Among the various explanations to this center of interests, the paper takes up the view that the protagonist Santiagos optimism and unyielding character after unending and inconceivable sufferings should be really appre

4、ciated and respected. The readers can comprehend the preferable novel and excavate the inner world and feelings of Hemingway.To support this thesis, the paper is developed into four major parts. The first part focuses on introduction about Hemingways life and the story background. The second part pr

5、esents Santiagos manhood by analysis of his character and spirits. The third part pictures the connotation implied in the old manman can be defeated but such defeat can be turned into spiritual victory. The fourth part is about Spirit Connected with the Authors Life. Key words: Santiago, Manhood, Co

6、nnotation, Character, Unconquerable spirit, Religious significance, 摘 要老人与海是美国作家欧内斯特海明威后期的一部重要作品。这部作品充分体现了作者的创作原则，成为一部在世界文学史上有着重要价值而为人们珍视的经典著作。这篇小说蕴含着不止一层意义，这也是促成这部小说成功的关键。这是一个激动人心的带有悲剧性的冒险故事。故事通过象征手法的运用，决定着小说人物个性的创造。海明威描述了一个硬汉的形象，桑地亚哥，他具有不可征服的精神力量。本文主要解读圣地亚哥的英汉形象，具体分析其人物性格和精神使读者们可以更好的理解作品的完美无缺和挖掘海明

7、威的内心世界和感受。关键词：圣地亚哥，硬汉形象，隐含意义，性格特点，不可战胜的精神力量，宗教意义，Figure analysis of the old man and the sea manhood of Santiago1. Introduction1.1 Hemingways life and literary careerRegarded as a giant both in American literature and the world literature, Ernest Hemingway was born on July21, 1898, at Oak Park, Illin

8、ois. In the childhood, influenced by his father, Hemingway was interested in music, pictures, hunting, fishing and the like. His variety of interest, especially the love of fishing extremely affected all his life and he drew much writing inspiration from his fishing experience. Taking adventures als

9、o plays a vital role in his life and for the reason that he experienced the two world wars. As a noticeable representative of the “Lost Generation”, Hemingway published the books of this sort, The Sun Also Rises at the age of 26. Because the book chiefly deals with the living attitude of the post-wa

10、r generation, especially the lives of those wounded soldiers and the loneliness and disillusionment of the modern people whose ideal was shattered at the time when “God is dead”, they thought life was nothing and meaningless. In this case, Hemingway became the spokesperson for the The Lost Generatio

11、n. Actually the parable of a mans struggle against the nature, The Old Man and The Sea was published in 1952. Acknowledged as his best works, the novel reinvigorated Hemingways literary reputation after the violent attacks，he received from Across the River and Into the Tress. The positive reaction t

12、hat followed the novel included praise not only from the reviewers but also from a board spectrum of the mass, from ordinary readers to fellow men of letters. The publishing of this work showed that Hemingway had shown he could still achieve a major triumph, whether or not the reviewers and critics

13、or the public could appreciate the true value of his achievement. The Old Man and the Sea was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and Hemingways famous iceberg technique, which is a simple but highly suggestive style, was vividly embodied in the work, thus he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his “mast

14、ery of the art of modern narration”.1.2 Introduction to the backgroundThe old Man and the Sea is a fable of an old mans life which was told by Hemingway.Hemingway is a famous American writer of modern times. Seeking way out and seeking the understanding of life is the theme that Hemingway wanted to

15、explore. He was an unyielding man, so he portrayed the distinctive individual character of “the character of unyielding man”. From all the works of Hemingways, we can find that when Hemingway chose personage, he especially liked to choose beggar, hunter, solider and so on, they could protect their d

16、ignity by resisting with the world which is full of hostility, they maintain a graceful demeanor under great force, but on target. The characters of the protagonist are different from that of the early days novel. All the characters of the protagonists in his novel show his inward world-he was an un

17、yielding man, and has the desire to be the best one in the world, all these can be improved by the protagonists that are suffering but strong-minded. As a mouthpiece of “the lost generation”, Hemingway suffered cold shoulder and attack almost ten years in the commentary field. In order to save the d

18、esperate situation, Hemingway wrote a work that he firmly believes to be the best works in his life, which was called The Old Man and the Sea, which is the inheritance and development of Hemingways unyielding character.1.3 General description of the storyThe story accounts for five days in the life

19、of Santiago an old Cuban fisherman, three of which are spent at sea. He is not the narrator: it is a third person narrative but imbued with his perspective and his consciousness. Santiago is out of luck: he has gone 84 days without catching a single fish. As a result the parents of his young protg M

20、anolin have forced Manolin to fish on another boat.Nonetheless Manolins respect and affection for the Old Man lead him to care for Santiago and provide basic essentials for him. Manolin is captivated not only by the Old Mans abilities as a deep-sea fisherman but also his recounting of past heroic ad

21、ventures; his “knowledge” of American Baseball and its contemporary hero, Joe DiMaggio. Santiago dreams of “lions roaming on the beach” in an Africa he sailed to as a young man.On the 85th day Santiago sets sail and shortly hooks a huge Marlin. He allows the Marlin to exhaust itself by towing the Ol

22、d Man far into the ocean. On the morning of the 86th day the Old Man sees the Marlin surface and realizes he has a major battle on his hands. In preparation he eats the raw tuna he has used as bait and recalls the successful arm-wrestling exploits of his youth. Another day passes and Santiagos energ

23、ies are virtually exhausted: but the Marlin is more so. He reels the great fish in and after considerable effort he straps the fish to the side of his skiff. Mans heroic attempts to repel them, devour the flesh of the Marlin, leaving the skeletal remains only to be brought back to port.On landing Sa

24、ntiago is utterly exhausted: the skeleton is judged that of the largest fish any of his peers have ever seen.Manolin looks after him and promises him that they will fish together again.The Old Man falls asleep, again dreaming of lions on a distant shore.2. Analysis of Santiagos manhood2.1 The connot

25、ation SantiagoSantiago: =s James, a Spaniard from the Canaries originally. Biblically a fisherman, then a fisher of men. St. James was the patron saint of the conquistadores, the Spanish conquerors of the Caribbean and South America, who believed they were bringing heroic values to the New World.Hem

26、ingways ideal of manhood is nearly inseparable from the ideal of heroism discussed above. To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept ones duty without complaint, and most importantly, to display a maximum of self-control. The representation of femininity,

27、 the sea, is characterized expressly by its caprice and lack of self-control; if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them. The representation of masculinity, the marlin, is described as great, beautiful, calm, and noble, and Santiago steels him against his pain by telling

28、 himself, suffering like a man. Or a fish, referring to the marlin. In Hemingways ethical universe, Santiago shows us not only how to live life heroically but in a way befitting a man. 2.2 The image and character of SantiagoThe old fisherman Santiago in the Old Man and the Sea is the finest and the

29、best known of Hemingways heroes. The most important thing about him is that he behaves perfectly honorably, with great courage and endurance. Hemingway succeed in revealing the outstanding qualities of the old manself-confidence. The old man is thin and gaunt, he has deep wrinkles, discolored clothe

30、s, but his eyes are perhaps the key to his soul. It is clear that he has optimistic nature. It is hope and strong belief that encourage him to persist in going fishing. He no longer dreamed of storms, fights, contests. He only dreamed of places now and of the lion on the beach. He is old now and his

31、 youth or strength is left behind him. His dream gives him braveness. All above shows the old man is steadfast.2.2.1BravenessThe character of Santiago is complex in novel. Firstly, the old man is presented as a brave and courageous man. He reaches the sea where nobody has ever tried before. Surround

32、ed by darkness, latent geographical dangers, fierce birds and sharks which may destroy him at any moment, he rows his boat on the sea for two days and two nights, really a unique and daring journey. Even when he is too exhausted and has no gaff and harpoon to kill the swamp of sharks, his bravery is

33、 not shattered. He still makes use of his strength and wisdom to boat home.2.2.2 DignitySantiago is a man of dignity for which Hemingway shows his great interest and praise. To the old man, a mans most important quality is his dignity. He should safeguard it for all his life and under no circumstanc

34、e can be he takes it lightly. He has confidence on fishing and dignity of himself; he is serious of his dignity. When the story develops, we are gradually led to see the wisdom and actions he takes to protect his dignity.2.2.3 UncertaintyThe old man is not a saint he has his weakness of uncertainty.

35、 He is driven through the two opposing forces between certainty and uncertainty, confidence and difference. This is best presented in his long monologue as he is fighting with the marlin and the sharks. The old man sometimes feels he needs companion to give him confidence and certainty about himself

36、. His mentioning of the boy several times proves that he finds his weakness and uncertainty growing out of his strengths and weakness. 来2.3 Unconquerable Spirit of ManSantiago, a hero, is the spiritual man. His life is not good condition. He is so poor that he has no pot of yellow rice and fish to e

37、at. However, Santiago is so confident that he faces bravely towards his fate and trouble. He uses his own spirit to defeat difficulties. When he fights with the marlin, “I could not fail myself and die on a fish like this, he said. Now that I have him coming so beautifully, God help me endure. Ill s

38、tay a hundred Our Fathers and a hundred Hail Marys. But I cannot say them now” (Hemingway 1993:75). When he fights with the sharks, “I could not expect to kill them, he thought. I could have in my time. But I have hurt them both badly and neither one can feel very good. If I could have used a bat wi

39、th two hands I could have killed the first one surely. Even now, he thought.” (Hemingway 1993:99) All these reveal his personality, his optimistic attitude towards life. The readers can not only see his confidence, his hope, and his strong will in his cheerful and undefeated eyes, but see his great

40、ambition and courage to challenge the nature and decide his fate in his never-stopping pursuit in the sea.Being heroic and manly are not merely qualities of character, which one possesses or does not. One must constantly demonstrate ones heroism and manliness through actions conducted with dignity.

41、Interestingly, worthiness cannot be conferred upon oneself. Santiago is obsessed with proving his worthiness to those around him. Triumph over crushing adversity is the heart of heroism, and in order for Santiago the fisherman to be a heroic emblem for humankind, his tribulations must be monumental.

42、 Triumph, though, is never final, as Santiagos successful slaying of the marlin shows; else there would be no reason to include the final 30 pages of the book. Hemingway vision of heroism is Sisyphean, requiring continuous labor for quintessentially ephemeral ends. What the hero does is to face adve

43、rsity with dignity and grace, hence Hemingways Neo-Stoic emphasis on self-control and the other facets of his idea of manhood. What we achieve or fail at externally is not as significant to heroism as the comporting ourselves with inner nobility. As Santiago says, Man is not made for defeat.A man ca

44、n be destroyed but not defeated (Hemingway 1993:89). Hemingways ideal of manhood is nearly inseparable from the ideal of heroism discussed above. To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept ones duty without complaint, and most importantly, to display a ma

45、ximum of self-control.3. Whats conveyed in the old man3.1 Religious SignificanceSantiago, the hero, Hemingway implied clearly, is either a human being or a spiritual being. He has the double identities with humanity and divinity. Hemingway creates the image of Santiago, a man of bravery, wisdom, dig

46、nity and diffidence; he purposefully makes the old man different both from people of his ages and of all times, just as the novel says, “there are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you.” (Hemingway 1993:17) He is distinct and superior to others. Like Coleridges Ancient Marin

47、er, Hemingways Cuban fisherman is a character allowing the imagination of his creator to operate simultaneously in two different worlds of meaning and value, the one real and dramatic, the other moral and devotionally symbolic. 3.2 Philosophy of life The work deeply reveals Hemingways philosophy of

48、life and life attitude.This thesis intends to reach a thorough understanding of Hemingways philosophy of life through the novel The Old Man and the Sea: when facing the cruel social reality and miserable fate, man should be brave and struggle with all the pains and sufferings, loving life and treasu

49、ring life. The story of the old man- Santiago just reflects Hemingways philosophy of life. He does not catch a single fish for eighty-four days but he does not feel discouraged. He goes to sea alone, and finally hooks a giant marlin. His fighting against the marlin and later sharks shows his struggling spirit. In addition, the description of the environment