【《老人与海》男主人公形象分析（英语版）（论文）】

Introduction1.1ResearchbackgroundErnestHemingwaywasastrikingAmericanwriterofthe20thcenturywhowasatthecentreofmuchliterarycriticism.Despitethemixedreviewsofsomeofhisworksandhisperson,criticshavegivengreatcredittohismiddle-gradenovelTheOldManandtheSea.TheOldManandtheSea,writtenin1951,waspublishedinmorethanfivemillioncopiesandreceivedcriticalacclaimfromreaders;HemingwaywonthePulitzerPrizeforTheOldManandtheSeain1953andtheNobelPrizeforLiteraturein1954forTheOldManandtheSea.TheOldManandtheSeaearnedHemingwayagreatreputationasawriter,andHemingwayhimselfconsideredittobethebestworkhehadeverwritteninhislife.Thedoubtsandanxietiesaboutthemeaninglessnessoflifethatresultedfromthetwowarspervadedtheheartsofeveryonewhoexperiencedthem,andexistentialismisaprofoundexpressionofthesituationofpeopleinthisperiod.Hemingwayexperiencedthetwoworldwarsfirst-handandsawfirst-handthetraumatheybroughttopeople,whowereplungedintoconfusionaboutlifeanddisorientationabouttheworld(陈建,2010:3).Duringthewar,Hemingwaywasawarcorrespondentonthebattlefield,experiencingthepainofbeingwoundedinthelegbyanunexpectedbomb,thegriefofkillingcolleaguesandcomrades,thefragilityoflife,thefearofdeath,theunpredictabilityoftheworldandtheunpredictabilityoffate.Theseextraordinaryexperiencesofwarledhimtofocusmoreandmoreonlifeitself,tosearchforthewaysandmeaningsofhumanexistence,andtoexploretheeternityoflifeinafinitelife.Asarepresentativeofthe'lostgeneration',Hemingwaysawthehumanconditionofhistimeandrealisedthatpeoplewerefacingachaoticworldthatwasunpredictable,fullofviolenceandfear,andthatitwasdifficulttofindaplaceforthesoul.MostofHemingway'sworksusethethemeofwartoshowtheemotionsandfeelingsofpeopleinwar.Eachofhisnovelsistosomeextentinfusedwithhislifeexperiencesandhasitsownarchetypes,whichisalsoanaturalexpressionofhisthinkingabouttheplightofhumanexistenceandthequestioningofthevalueoflifeinhisworks.TheexistentialistphilosophicaltrendintheWesternpost-warworldhadasignificantimpactonHemingway'swork.Beforehejoinedthewar,Hemingwayhadhighexpectationsandenthusiasmforjoiningthewar,butafterexperiencingthewar,experiencingthefragilityoflifeandtheunpredictabilityofdeath,heturnedtohisdisgustforwar,hisdespairforsocietyandhisquestioningofthemeaningoflife.1.2ResearchsignificanceInTheOldManandtheSea,ErnestHemingwaysparesnoeffortinwritingaboutthebackgroundandenvironmentofthemaincharacter,andplacestheoldmanaloneonthesea,almostisolatedfromtheworldaroundhim,tohighlighttheemotionalfeelingsandspiritofthemaincharacter.Throughthis"artisticabstraction",thenovelhasroomforavarietyofinterpretations,whichthereadercanfillaccordingtohisorherimagination,thusgivingthenovel'sthemeauniversalandeternalmeaningthattranscendstimeandspace,withakindofimplicationofthenatureoftheworldandhumanexistence.Howtoseekabetterexistenceandmeaninginaworldfullofsuffering,absurdityandanxietyisaproblemthateveryonehastofaceandurgentlyneedstosolve.Toacertainextent,thedilemmafacedbySantiagoinTheOldManandtheSeaisalsoaproblemfacedbypeopleinreallife,andtheanalysisofSantiago'sstateandwayoflivinghaspracticalguidanceforus.ThispaperattemptstoanalysethecharacterofSantiagofromthenovel.1.3LiteratureReviewThenovelTheOldManandtheSeaislikeamajesticandspectacularicebergdriftingonavastandboundlesssea,withonlyone-eighthofthewordsdescribingitcomingtothesurface.Amongtheresearcharticlescollectedbytheauthor,dependingonthefocus,theresearchonthenovelTheOldManandtheSeacanbebroadlydividedintothefollowingareas:exploringHemingway'sphilosophicalideas,analysingthenovel'ssymbolism,interpretingthenovel'scharactersandtheirroles,evaluatingitsnarrativeartandstyle,comparingTheOldManandtheSeawithotherworks,conductingecocriticismofthenovel,andcomparativestudiesoftranslatedtexts;inadditionThereisalsoasmallamountofstream-of-consciousnessanalysis,gendercriticism,archetypalanalysis,etc.Inthesestudies,thefirstfiveaspectsaremainlystudied.PhilosophicalthoughtmainlyanalysesHemingway'soutlookonlifeandtheworld,themeaningofexistenceanditsways;symbolismresearchersmainlyfocusonimagerysuchasSantiago,thelittleboy,thelioninthedream,thesea,themarlinandtheshark,analysingtheirrespectivesymbolicmeaningsandtheirrolesinthenovel:characterinterpretationmostlyfocusesonanalysingThecomparativestudyofOldManandtheSeacomparesOldManandtheSeawithotherworksbyErnestHemingway,withforeignmasterpiecessuchasMobyDickandWaitingforGodot,andwithdomesticmasterpiecessuchasYugongYishan,DreamoftheRedChamberandTheWoundedMan.Ecocriticism,ontheotherhand,ismainlydevelopedthroughthedialoguebetweenSantiagoandnature,analysingtheinterdependenceandantagonismbetweenhumanbeingsandnature,expressingSantiago'sambivalencetowardsnature,andfinallypointingoutthathumanbeingsshouldco-existwithnatureinharmony.Ingeneral,thenovelTheOldManandtheSeahasbeenstudiedfrommanyangles,andavarietyoftheoreticalandcriticalapproacheshavebeenappliedtoachieverelativelyfruitfulresults.

ThreecharacteristicsofSantiago2.1Santiago'ssurvivalenvironment2.1.1LonelinessThelonelinessofSantiagoisdirectlydepictedseveraltimesinthenovel,notsimplyasrepetition,butasanelaborateportrayalbyHemingwaytoemphasisethesituationinwhichSantiagolives.Santiagosuffersfrombothsocialandnaturalloneliness,hislifeisentirelyhisown,hehasnocompanion,nofamilyorfriends,andeventheonlyyoungboywhofollowshimonhisfishingtriphasbeencalledawaybyhisparents,makinghimevenmorealoneinthevastexpanseofthesea.Hehastotalktohimself,tocounteractthelonelinessthatsurroundshimbytalkingtothebirdsintheskyandthefishonthesea;heisalsolonelyandhelplesswhenheisfightingwiththemarlinandthesharks,andhesaysmanytimesfromhisheart,"Ifonlythelittleboywerehere",butwithouthimandwithoutanyhelp(Mulaosmanovic,2013:13).Whenhewasfinallyattackedbythesharkandexhausted,hestumbledbackhomealonewiththeremainingremains.TheOldManandtheSeaisaboutSantiagoalone,butitisalsoaboutaworldinwhichweseethelonelinessofthehumanconditioninaworldmadeupofSantiagoandthesea.Althoughpeopleliveinsocialgroups,withharmoniousfamilies,friendsandrelatives,atmanymomentsinlife,infrontofmanythings,eachpersoninevitablyhastofacethemalone,noonecanreplacethem,frombirthtodeathonthisroad,mustgobythemselves,manytimesalsoencountertheincomprehensionofothers,copewithstrangepeopleandenvironment(PennewissS,2004:27-29).Inmodernsociety,whilescientificreasonrenewspeople'sconceptionofspaceandtimeandextendstheirsphereofcompetence,withtheincreasingdeclineofreligioninmoderntimes,religionisnolongertheunquestionablecentreandrulerofpeople'slives,andpeoplelosetheirconcreteconnectiontoatranscendentalrealmofexistence,breakingwiththemetaphysicalrootsofreligion.Individuallifeisdirectlyconfrontedwithaworldofcontingencyandirrationality,aworldwhosemysteryandinfinitechangemakeitimpossibleforpeopletograsp,andinwhichtheyfeelmorealonethanever.Accordingtotheexistentialists,apersonisonlyapersonwhenheisalone,whenheisalonewithhisownpredicament,whenheisalonewithhisowndestiny,whenhereliesonhisownabilityandcouragetoconfrontit,whenheistrulyaperson.Whenthehumanbeingisamemberofsociety,herepresentsmoreofasymbol.ThepioneerKierkegaard's'solitaryindividual'becamethebasicconceptofexistentialism,emphasisingthesubjectiveinnerexperienceofthehumanbeingandconsideringtheemotionalfeelingsthatexistintheheartoftheindividualtobetheonlyreality.Hetakesthe"solitaryindividual"asthebasisofhisphilosophicalthoughtonexistence."Heemphasisesthatthe'solitaryindividual'istheconcrete,theonlyindividual,andhisaimistomakeeachindividualaffirmhisownexistence,tointuithisownexistence".Solitudeisthereforeanindispensableaspectofanindividual'slife,andonlybycopingwitheverythingalonecanSantiagoexperienceadeepersenseofbeing,andperfectlyfulfilthetask"hewasborntodo".Duringhisfishingtrip,Santiagoalsofeltthatheshouldnotbealone,butheimmediatelydismissedthisideaasinevitable.Later,whenhesawthemarlinandmarvelledatitspower,hethoughtthathehadnevercaughtsuchabigfishalonebefore,andnowhewasalone,rejoicingatthisonce-in-a-lifetimeopportunity.2.1.2AnxietyAnxiety,likeloneliness,isanimportantpartofthemodernexperienceofthehumancondition.WecanalsoseethisemotioninSantiago'scharacterinTheOldManandtheSea.WhenSantiagotangleswiththebigmarlin,butneverseestherealfaceofthefishandisexhaustedbyitspull,hewonders"maybeIshouldn'tbeafisherman";thereisatimewhenheseesthathewilllosethefightwiththebigmarlinandhefeelssobadthathethinksitisadream.AccordingtoSartre:"TheanxietycomesfromthisfuturewhichIwanttobeandwhichisnotenoughtobe".Inhisstrugglewiththemarlin,Santiagohopestoovercomethemarlinandbecomeafishermanwhocatchesthebigmarlin,buttherealityofthetrialsandtribulations,thehardshipsanddifficultiesofthestrugglemakethisfutureinvisibletohim,hefeelsthreatenedeverywhereandhispowerisnotenoughtoturnthesituationaround.ThisanxietyisexperiencedasSantiago'shelplesssufferingabouthisownlimitations,ananxietyabouthissituation.Tillichdividesanxietyintothreekinds:anxietyaboutfateanddeath,anxietyaboutemptinessandlossofmeaning,andanxietyaboutguiltandcondemnation.ThesethreekindsofanxietycanalsobeseeninSantiago.Santiagoisconfrontedwithallkindsofcontingenciesandpossibilitiesinthecourseoffishing,andwhenheisphysicallyandmentallyexhaustedandcanhardlysupporthimself,hesuspectshisidentityasafishermanwithanxietyabouthisfate."Whatisemphasisedby'fate',whichisusedtorefertothiscategoryofanxiety,isacommonelementinthem:Theircontingency,theirunpredictability,andtheimpossibilityofrevealingtheirnatureofmeaningandpurpose."WhenSantiago,withallhisstrength,failedtosubduethebigmarlin,hesaid,"Fish,you'redeadanyway.Doyouhavetogetmekilledtoo?"AtthispointSantiagofeelsthethreatofdeath,thephysicalthreatofthesituationtohisego,andthushasasenseofanxietyaboutdeath(ElHaddad,1999:19).2.1.3MiserablelifeInSantiagoweseethesamepictureasSisypheus:theyarebothhopefullycommittedtoanultimatelyfutilecause,sufferingthetrialsandtribulationsoftheworld,bruisedandbattered,physicallyandmentallyexhausted,defeatedtimeandtimeagain,butalwayswithpassionandhope,andwithaheavyfootsteptowardstheendlesssuffering.Santiagogoesoutfishingwithhope,riskinghislifeatseaforthreedaysinagruellingstrugglewithmarlinandsharks,onlytoendupwithaskeletonoffish,yetattheendofthenovelhestilldoesnotdespairofreality,butisfullofhopeandpassion,preparingforhisnextfishingtrip,andwhenallhiseffortshavenotpaidoff,hestillpinshishopesontomorrow.Intheconfrontationbetweenhisardenthopeandhiscoldreality,betweenhissubjectiveconfidenceandhistragicfate,inthisfutiledefiance,weseetheabsurd,Santiagois...anabsurdhero.Santiago'sabsurdityariseswhenhisfiercehopeofcatchingabigfishmeetsthecold,unpredictablerealityofthesea,whenheencountersthestubbornresistanceofabigmarlin,whenheispreyeduponbyapowerfulschoolofsharks,whenSantiagoisconfrontedwiththesentenceoffatethatalwaysthreatenshim,aswithhissailthatseemstobeasignofeternalfailure-andintheend,threedaysofhardworkatseayieldonlytheskeletonofamarlin.Intheprocess,hefelttired,bored,disappointed,andconstantlygavehimselfconfidence,passion,hopeandallthesementalreactionscanbeattributedtotheabsurditythatarisesfromthe"rupture"betweenman'ssubjectiveaspirationsandtheobjectiveworld,inItisnotinSantiagoaloneorintheworld,butinthecomparisonofthetwo,andifoneofthecomparisonsdisappears,sodoestheabsurdity.ButtheabsurdityispresentinSantiago'ssubjectiveexpectationsofthefuture,whicharealwaysunknowableandcontrarytohisexpectations,andinthefactthatthetwoarealwaysincompatible,likealingeringmockeryofman,linkingSantiagototheworld(牛莹,李蕊伶,2018:1).Santiago'ssenseofabsurdityalsoliesinthefactthattheworldfirstgiveshimahugegift-abigmarlin-whichmakeshimsohappythatheisfullofconfidenceandstrengthandfightswiththebigmarlininordertoobtainthisgreatgift.Theresultwasabrutaldefeatandpowerlessness.2.2Santiago'spsychologicaljourney2.2.1ReminiscenceofthepastSantiagoisapoor,thin,emaciated,lonely,unluckyoldfishermanwithmanyscars,asifeverymisfortunethatmancanendurecanbefoundinhim.How,then,didSantiagomanagetoperseveretotheendinhisdifficultandremarkablestrugglealone?Oneofhisspiritualmotivationscamefromhisrecollectionsofthepast.Thefocusoftheserecollectionsisnotonwhetherornotsomethingreallyhappenedinhistory,butratherontheemotionalimplicationsofthepresentthatthisrecollectionbringstobearontherealityofthesituation.InSantiago'scase,thisreminiscenceismainlyexpressedthroughboththerecollectionoftheeventsofthechampionshipandthedream.WhenSantiagowasexhaustedfromhisprotractedbattlewiththebigmarlin,heremindedhimselfthathecouldovercomepowerfulopponentsonce,andstillcan,byrecallinghisownyouthwhenhefinallydefeatedthestrongestblackmanontheentiredockafteranentiredayandnightofsustainedcompetition.Itisimpossibleforeveryonetoremembereverythingtheypersonallyexperience;forgettingisfunctionalandmemoryisselective(苑淑梅,2020:1).Thehumanbrain'smemoryisanactiveanddynamicprocess,andeventhoughmanymemoriesdonotcorrespondtohistoryandreality,theyareprocessedandtransformedbythebrainandremaininthemind,acquiringakindofpsychologicalauthenticity.ThisisthecasewithSantiago'smemoryofthe"championshipevent".Thereisatimegradientinmemory,wheresomethingscanonlyberememberedforashortperiodoftime,whileothersremaininthebackofthemindandcomebacktousfromtimetotime.Santiagonolongerremembershiswife,buthasavividmemoryofwinningthechampionship,andthelionshesawinAfricawhenhewasyoungkeepappearinginhisdreams.Throughoutthenovel,Santiagorecallsthathewasanexcellentsailorinhisyouth,workingonashipinAfrica,andthatheusedtoseelionsonthebeachintheevening.Thelionsarethenarecurringthemeinhisdreams.InSantiago'spsychologicalrecollectionsofthepast,themainfocusisonthe"championship"andthedreamaboutthelion,inadditiontomemoriesofhisyouthasasailoronasailingshipinAfrica,wherehesawalion,andoffishingwithafive-year-oldboy,whentheboatwasalmostcrushedandtheboyalmostdied,beforefinallyovercomingthebigfish(李红梅,程郁,2009:2).ThesememoriesanddreamsofSantiago'spastarenotintendedtobeareturntothepast,butrathertocopewiththerealityofasituationinwhichhisegoisnotstrongenough,toimprovehisconfidenceinthefutureandtogainthementalstrengthtofight.TheserecollectionsofthepastareanhonourablepresenceforSantiago,andhereliesonthemtoevokethepassionandstrengthtofightagainstthejudgementsoffateandtheforcesthatthreatenhim.Inthisprocess,the"past"actsonthepresentandreconcilesthedilemmaofexistencewiththeactionofself-assertion.Santiago'srecollectionmixespasteventswithmentalimagination,therecollectionofthe'past'aswhatthepresentmewantstobe,pointingtothefuturemefromwhichthepresentconsciousmeintendstogainthepowertorealiseitsself-worthandeliminateitsanxieties.Inthisprocess,Santiagoconnectshismemorieswiththemixedpastofhisimagination,therealityofthepresentandthefuturehehopestoachieve.2.2.2SadnessaboutthepresentAsSantiagodealswiththehardshipsofthepresentandexperiencestheloneliness,anxietyandabsurdityofexistence,hispsychologicalself-regulationisnotonlyareminiscenceofthepastbutalsoakindoffantasyofthepresentsituation.Thisisreflectedintheimagery,theimaginationandtheassociations.Inthesefantasies,imaginationsandassociations,heconfrontsthemiseryofexistenceandtheloneliness,anxietyandabsurdityofhisheart.Inthenovel,asSantiagostrugglesagainstthemarlinandthesharks,herepeatedlyexclaims:Iwishtheboywerehere.Whenheisbeingdraggedalongthesurfacebythemarlinandhisstrengthisunabletopullthefishupaninch,helaments,"Ifonlytheboywerehere,I'mbeingdraggedalongbyafish,I'mashortpoleonarope"(尕松求忠,2014:116).Hewantedtodefeatthemarlinandcaptureit,buthewasunabletodefeatthebigmarlininreallife.Intheveryactofsaying"Iwishthelittleboywerehere",hehasformedamentalpictureoftheboy'shelp,anditisinthismentalpicturethathegainsthestrengthtosupporthimself,theboybecominghisprotectorandhisstrengthtoovercomehisopponents.Santiago'sfantasiesinthefaceofrealdifficultiesareultimatelyaimedatachievinghisgoalsandmeanings.Thesefantasiesallowhimtostrengthenhisfaithinvictory,shakeoffthedepressionanddespaircausedbyhisprevioussetbacks,andfillhimwiththementalstrengthtoconfrontandovercomethephysicalpainofexhaustion,sothathecanbetterlookforwardtohisfuture.2.2.3LongingforthefutureDespiteallthefailures,misfortunes,badluckandhardshipsthatSantiagosuffersinreality,heisalwaysfullofhopeandfantasyforthefuture,alwaystellinghimselfthathewillhavegoodluckandcatchbigfish.ThisstateofmindofSantiagoisdepictedseveraltimesinthenovel.Whenthelittleboywantstogethimfourfishbaits,hesayswithconfidenceandhopethatheonlyneedsone;forexample,hethinksthat85isanauspiciousnumberandheshouldbuyalotteryticketwith85attheend,heenvisionscatchingafishofmorethan1,000poundsonthistripandconfidentlybelievesthatitwillnothappenagainthathehasnotcaughtafishfor87daysHelookstothefuturewithconfidence,planningtowardsthefuturethathewillcatchabigfishandmakingitthegoalofhisactions,forhim:-"Thefuturecomesfirst,becauseoneplanstowardsthisfieldanddefinesone'sexistence."Santiagosaystotheboybeforehegoesouttoseathathefeelsquitesuretoday,butatthesametimehehassomedoubts,asdescribedinthenovel:"Theproblemisonlythatmyluckisbadonthis.Butwhocansay?Maybetodaywillbeagoodday.""Afterashortperiodofdoubt,heishopefulforthefutureagain(Jeba,Cranapu,2018:18).Afterhisdifficultcatchofalargemarlin,hewasattackedbyavicioussharkandwhen,afterfightingoffthesecondwaveofsharks,themarlinwasmangledandtheseawasleftwiththescentofaninvitingshark,hehadavaguevisionofaterriblefuture,thearrivalofmorevicioussharks,buthesoondismissedthisuneaseandfeltthatnothingwascertain,thatitwouldturnoutwell,that"maybeI'llgetluckyandbringbackthefirsthalfofthisone.'Betterkeepyourheadupandsteer.Youmightstillhavegreatluck.'"DespiteallthemisfortunesandthreatsthatSantiagoencountersinreality,hishopeisnotquenched;it"seemstoberootedentirelyinthefuture,asonetendstospecify'hope':theanticipationoffuturegood,asmuchastheanticipationoffutureevil.Whatdeterminesthestructureofthephenomenon,however,isnotthefuturenatureofwhatishopedforinrelationtoit,buttheexistentialsignificanceoftheactivityofhopeitself.Thehopefulpersondoeslooktowardswhathehopesfor,butthispresupposesthathehasalreadysufferedacertainunease."Inhisvisionandhopeforthefuture,heisalwaysmotivatedbyacertaindoubtandanxietyabouttherealityofhissituation,whileatthesametime,inthishopeforthefuture,hedetermineshisdirection,planshisactions,dealsmethodicallywiththedifficultiesofthepresentanddefusesthedangersaroundhim.Hisvisionofthefutureisdistinguishedfromimaginarythingsbyhispurposefulplanning(Nezam,Pirnajmuddin,2012:57).Everyhumanbeingintheworldhasaquestforpurposeandmeaning,butinrealitythereareoftenmanyobstaclesanddifficulties,sohowdoyoucopewithsuchdifficultiesandpersevereinyouractions?Santiago,inthefaceoftheexternaldilemmasofexistence,establishesaunifiedspaceofpast,presentandfuturebymeansofmentalfantasiesandassociations,whichgeneratepositivemeanings,alldirectedtowardsthepresentsituationandalltowardsabetterfuture.AccordingtoSartre:itisintheprocessofescapingfromasituationtowardsthepossibilityofchangingitthatweorganiseitasacompositeofmotivationanddrive(魏涵睿,2019:2).Inthisspace,hemergespasteventswithimagination,interlacesrealsituationswithimaginarythings,combinesencountereddifficultieswithfuturehopes,thusformingapowerfulandrichinnerworld,whichinthiswaycombatsthedifficultiesandmisfortunesofreality,escapesloneliness,cancelsanxiety,strengthensconviction,arousesfightingspiritandstrength,overcomesphysicalexhaustionandpainItisawayoffightingagainstthedifficultiesandmisfortunesofreality,ofescapingfromloneliness,ofcancellinganxiety,ofstrengtheningfaith,ofarousingfightingspiritandstrength,ofovercomingphysicalexhaustionandpain,andofsustaininghiminhistenaciousfight.2.3Santiago'spersonalquest2.3.1ThequestforfreedomRyanHedigeroftheUniversityofColoradonotesthatSantiago'sencounterwiththemarlinconveysastrongsenseoflife,asensethatreflectshismoralconsiderationsandstance,andbecauseSantiagoharboursthehopeofcatchingabigfish,whenheencountersit,themarlinnaturallybecomesanopponenthemustovercome.Itbecomestheopponenthemustovercome(Dai,2007:7).Asafisherman,Santiagohastoprovehissignificanceandvaluebydefeatingthebigmarlin,andinhisactivityofdirectinghisconsciousnesstowardsthebigmarlin,heestablishesaconnectionwiththeworldandfindstheobjectofhisactionandtheobjectofhisconfrontation.Butinthecourseofthefighthefeelsthatthegreatmarlinisstrong,brilliant,peculiar,verycapable,manly,knowstheartoffighting,fearlessandconfident,andthatthesearetheveryvirtuesthathepossessesorwishestopossess,andheprojectsthisself-appreciationandesteemofhisownontothegreatmarlin,endowingitwithahumannature,sothathefeelsThegreatmarlinishisbrother,andhepraisesitsnobility,valourandtenacity,andpitiesitsinjuriesandstarvation;thesepraisesandpitieshehasforthegreatmarlinareinfactpraisesandpitiesforhimself,somuchsothatheiswillingtobethisfish,exertingallhisstrengthagainsthimself,asifitwerehisownbodyfightingagainsthisownmentalwill.Inthisemotionalprojection,hefeelsbadaboutgettingthebigmarlinkilledandthatnooneelsedeservestoeatit.Santiagoisinastateofambivalencebecausehegivesmeaningtothemarlin,whichdoesnothaveasingle,absolutemeaningforhim,butisbothanopponenthemustdefeatandabrotherheadmires(Chen,2007:32).Butthisdidnotaffecthisdecisiontokillthebigmarlin,foritwashisoriginalambition,hisfreechoice,hisgoalforthetrip,andsohewouldneverhavechangedhisplannedaction,eveniftherehadbeensomeemotionalelement.Withoutthis'prerequisitestatusofpurpose',hewouldnothavekilledthebigmarlin.Butthis'historicalsituation'iswhatSantiagohimselfchosetoencounterinordertocatchthebigfish:'MyhistoricalsituationiswhatIfeel,andwhatIfeelisdeterminedbythepurposeIhavesetbeforeme.BecauseIfreelychoosemyidealorpurpose,whathappenstomyhistoricalsituationisalsodeterminedbyme.BecauseIchoosemyidealorpurpose,Ichooseandassumemyhistoricalsituation."Sothehostileforcesthatmanencountersareconditionedbytheendsthatmanfreelychooses,bythefactthatmancreatescircumstancesthatcontainconstraintsontheachievementofcertaingoalsinordertoachievethem,andthatthisself-emergenceofmanconstitutesthelimitsthathewillface.Indealingwithwaveafterwaveofsharks,heshowshishatredforthem,resistsstubbornly,fightsandkillsthem,becausetheyareforhimabominablepredators,hisstrongestopponents,viciousforcesthatthreatenhisachievementsanddignity,butallthispresupposesthathe,asafishermanwhowantstocatchbigfish,andthispresuppositionisfreelychosenbyhim,imagineifhewereatouristtouristontheoceantourist,thenthesharkwouldnotbearival,athreattohim,andhewouldnothavetoworryaboutwhenitwouldcomeagainandwhattodoaboutit.Hethenthrewhimselfintothefighttocatchthebigmarlin,feelinghelplessandsomewhatbewilderedbythethreatthatthemarlinmightsinkallthewaytothebottom,butsoontoldhimselfthattherewasalothecoulddotodealwithit,andthatthemostimportantthingtodoatthemomentwastokeepfightingthemarlinandnotgiveup(夏禧年10).Hecouldhavechosentogiveupinthefaceofthesehardshipsanddangers,buthedidn'