老人与海人物形象分析

-1-ChapterOneIntroductionInApril1936,Hemingwaypublishedanarticletitled“BlueWater:ALetterfromtheBay”inthesquiremagazine.ThestorystructureofTheOldManandtheSeaisverysimple.Ittellsthestoryofanoldfishermanstrugglingwithabigfishatseafortwodays.Inthisnovel,Hemingway'snovelimbuesprofoundmeaningthroughthebattlebetweentheoldmanandthebigfish,theoldman'sthoughts,theoldman’swords,andtheoldman’sdreams.Onthesurface,thecourage,perseverance,andoptimismoftheelderly,theirdesiresandthoughtsintheirdreams,andtheirideologicalstrugglesduringthese84daysmakethisworkfulloflifephilosophy.ThisoldmanhasHemingway’sshadow,whichishisreflectionontheworld.Hecreatedanoutstandingimageforanordinaryoldfisherman,whichisHemingway’sanalysisofhimself.Hemingwaywasverybrave.Henotonlyhasthecouragetofacethisworld,butalsothecouragetofacehistrueself.ItwasthiscouragethatdroveHemingwaytothesummitandonceagainchallengedhislimits.Thisspiritofself-improvementwasalsoHemingway’slifelongspiritualeffort,anditwasalsothespiritthatAmericansofhistimelacked.Thisisanihilisticthing.Itmaybefate.Peoplecan’tdefeatit,butpeoplehavetobebraveandright.Evenifpeoplefail,theprocesswillstillbevigorousandcan'tgiveup.ItisinthiswaythatTheOldManandtheSeacanbecomehispeakwork.Peoplecanbedestroyedbutnotdefeated,whichreflectstheoldman’spositiveandenterprisingspiritindifficultiesandthecouragetosurviveindespair.Inotherwords,theshockingandrichthemeof“neversaydie”isexpressedandcompletedthroughtheimageoftheelderly.ThewriterwarmlyeulogizestheindestructiblespiritualpowerofmankindwiththeelegantandheroicimagesoftheSantiagoandthelittleboyManolininthenovel.ChapterTwoIntroductiontotheWriterandHisWorksTheOldManandtheSeaisthelastnovelpublishedbymodernAmericannovelistHemingwayduringhislifetime.Asoneofhismostfamousworks,itrevolvesaroundanelderlyCubanfisherman,tellingthestoryofhisstrugglewithahugemarlinintheGulfStreamfaroffshore.ItscreativebackgroundandnovelcontentarenoteworthyinHemingway’sworks.2.1IntroductiontotheWriterHemingwayisanAmericannovelist,oneofthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcentury,isfamousforbeingatoughguyintheliteraryworld.AnditisaspiritualmonumentoftheAmericannation.Hemingwayhasarichlifeexperience.In1917,heworkedasatraineereporterfortheStarnewspaperinKansasCityforsixmonths.DuringWorldWarI,heservedasthedriveroftheRedCrossmotorcadeinItalyandwasseriouslyinjured.Later,heworkedasacorrespondentintheTorontoDailyStar.HemingwayparticipatedinWorldWarIIin1945,andthensettledinCuba.Theseexperienceshavelaidasolidfoundationforfuturecreation.Mostofhisworkshaveleftadeepimpressiononreaders.However,duetoillnessandmentalproblems,hecommittedsuicideinKertinJuly1961.2.2IntroductiontotheMainContentofTheOldManandtheSeaThenovelTheOldManandtheSeaiswrittenbasedonrealfacts.ThemaincontentoftheOldandtheSeaiswhenhewasyoung,Santiagowasaverygoodfisherman,butashegrewolder,hisluckseemedtobeworse.Foreighty-fourdays,hewenttoseaeveryday,butreturnedemptyeveryday.Evenhissailslookedlikea“flagthatmarkstheoldbattle”.Hiswifedied,andManolin,thelittleboywhousedtofishwithhim,alsowenttootherboatstohelpunderthepressureofhisparents.ButManolinstillrespectedtheoldmanverymuch.Everytimehesawtheoldmancomeback,hewouldalwaysgodowntotheshoretohelphimcleanupthefishingline,hook,harpoonandotherthings.Theoldman’ssimplehutwasempty,buttheoldmanandthelittleboytalkedaboutnon-existentdinner,talkedabouttheirfavoritebaseballteam,andcontinuedthedialoguedayafterday.Manolintookcareoftheoldman,broughthimalightmeal,andpreparedthebaitfortomorrow.Theoldmanwenttosleepaftereatinghislunch.Henolongerdreamedofsuchthingsasstrongwindsandwaves,bigfishandfightsashedidwhenhewasyoung,butdreamedofnaughtyandlovelylionsinforeignlandsandonthebeach.Thisistheeighty-fifthdaysincetheoldmandidnotcatchafish.Theweatherissunnyandtheseaiscalm.Santiagodecidedtotakeriskstogototheopensea,anddeterminedtobreakthebadluckandcatchabigfish.Whilerowing,hetalkedwiththesea,fishandseabirds.SincethelittleboyManolinlefthim,hehasdevelopedthehabitoftalkingtohimself.Suddenly,hefeltthefishingrodmoving.Heguessedthatahorsewaseatingthesardineonthetipofthehook.Hepulledthefishinglinetoknowthatthefishwasverybigandsmart.Aftertakingthehook,hedidnotpanicandyank.Hejustpulledtheboatslowlytothevastsea,andtheoldmanspentthewholedayinastrangejourney.Theoldman’sshoulderwassoreashepulledthefishingline.Atthistime,helongedforthechildtoremainwithhim,sohecouldhelp.Atthesametime,healsohadstrangefeelingsforfish.Heappreciatedthecourageandintelligenceoffish.Atnight,theoldmanwasverytired.Hehopedtosleepforawhile.Thenextday,inadditiontodeepfatigue,theoldman’slefthandbegantocrampagain,andthepainwassevere.Hefinallysawthefishfloatingoutofthesea.Itwaslongerthantheboatandverybeautiful.Intheafternoon,thecrampstopped,andtheoldmanatesomerawfishtoaccumulatestrengthfortheupcomingfight.Atnight,theoldman’shandwaspulledandjumpedbythefish,andtheskinwassplitandthefleshwasdrippingwithblood.Onthethirdday,thefishbegantospin,whichwasasignthatthecontestwasabouttoend.Thefishcameoutofthewater,andtheoldmantriedtopullitcloser.Heresistedallthepainandputallhisstrengthintothefish.Thebigfishsoondiedinthestruggle.Theoldmantiedittothesideoftheboatandbegantoreturn.However,theoldman’stroublesarenotover.Thebloodofthedeadfishattractedsharks.Theyswamalongtherouteandatethefish.Theoldmansuccessfullykilledashark,butthesharkalsotooktheharpoonwhenitsank.Theoldmanhadtofightwiththesharkswithsticks,sticksandrudder.Whentheboatsailedintotheharborinthemiddleofthenight,thefightingdayandnighthadexhaustedtheoldman.Thebigfishisalsoincomplete.Itsbeautyanditsvaluablefisharenolongerthere.Sadlyandlonely,theoldmanputdownthemast,pickedupthedamagedfishinggear,andwalkedbacktohishutinadaze.Hewasexhaustedandfellasleeponhisstomach.Asachild,Manolinfirstcriedfortheoldman’ssuffering,andthensenthimhotcoffee.Hesaidthatnomatterhowhisparentsobjected,hewouldalsofishwiththeoldman.Thebigfishleftonlyonethickfishbone,whichwasthrownintothegarbage.Inthehut,theoldmanwhohaddrunkcoffeefellasleepagain.Hewasdreamingofalion.ThechildManolinwaswithhim.ChapterThreeAnalysistheImageoftheCharactersinTheOldManandtheSeaThroughtheanalysisoftheimagesoftheoldmanSantiagoandthelittleboyManolininthenovelTheOldManandtheSea,peoplecangettheunyielding,indomitable,optimistic,confident,andtragicSantiagoandthefearless,persistentManolin.3.1TheImageofSantiagoEachcharacterimagehasitsownuniqueness.InTheOldManandtheSea,peoplecanseeclearlyanunyielding,optimistic,confident,andtragicSantiagobyunderstandingtheexperienceoftheoldmanSantiago.3.1.1IndomitabilityandUnyieldingnessInthenovelTheOldManandtheSea,thereisafamoussaying:“Amanisnotborntobedefeated.Youcandestroy,butyoucannotbedefeated.”[1]391Santiagoexplainedthissentenceincisivelyandvividlywithhistenaciouswillandperseverance.Santiago,theoldfishermaninthestory,hasnoharvestduringhiseighty-dayfishing.Hehasnevergivenupfishingatsea.Hestillstickstothefishinglifeofgoingoutearlyandreturninglatedayafterday.Inthemiddleofthejourney,hisonlyassistant,Manolin,hastochoosetoworkonanotherfishingboatbecauseofhisfather’sreason,hewasleftalone.Inthefaceofsuchadifficultsituation,theoldfishermanSantiagostillnottogiveup,andtogofishingatsea.Foranoldfisherman,thiskindofpersistencewasrare.Aftereighty-fourdaysofbadluck,itwasfinallyontheeighty-fifthday.Santiago’shookwasbittenandhookedbyahugefish.Hetriedtorecoverthefishingline.However,hetriedhisbesttodonothing.Thefishinglinehadnointentionofcomingup.Healsorealizedthattheweightofthefishwasnotnormal.Hehadnochoicebuttobreakthebigmarlinandswimwithimpunity,draggingtheboattothedistancewithhisbody.Whennightfell,thebigfishhadnointentionofstopping.Althoughtheoldmanhadnowaterorfoodtofillhisenergy,hewasdeterminedtocarrythebigfishtotheendunderthedualtestofenergyandphysicalstrength,whichshowshisstrongperseverance.Butthestoryoftendidn’tdevelopasexpected.Thenextday,theoldmanbeganvariousstruggleswiththemarlin.Itwasverydifficultfortheoldmantodealwiththemarlinwhenhewasalone.However,theoldmandidnotgiveupandcontinuedtofightwithatenaciouswill,ultimatelyachievingvictory.BythiswecanseetheSantiagohavebraveenoughtofaceanythingdifficult.Hemingway’sportrayalofSantiagoasatoughmaninTheOldManandtheSeaismoretoinspirepeopletodaretochallenge,tofightagainstnature,tofightagainstfate,andtofightagainstevilforces.Peoplecanbedefeatedbyotherthingsinthestruggle,butthehumanspiritisindestructible.Peopleshouldalwaysbefilledwiththeeternalspiritofpersistence,andfacealldifficultiesandhardshipswithapositiveattitudetochallengeallthethornsonthewayoflife.Santiagousedhispracticalactionstotellthatpeoplecanbeeliminatedbutnotdefeated.Bytellingasimplestoryinthenovel,theauthornotonlytobeweaklosers,butalsotofightagainstfateandnatureevenifonefails.Peopleshouldshowtheirdauntlessspiritandshowthemeaningoflife.3.1.2OptimismandConfidenceInTheOldManandtheSea,throughHemingway’sseriesofdescriptionsoftheprotagonistSantiagointhestory,peoplecaneasilyseethatSantiago’slifeisfullofthornsandbadluck,andisalwayssurroundedbybadluck.Despitethis,Santiagodidnotfeeldepressedorresentful.Healwaysmaintainedanoptimistichearttotreatlife.Healsomaintainedconfidenceineverythingandadversitywithoutanyslack.Santiago,asafishermanwhichhavemanyyearsexperienceingoingtosea,didnotharvestedanythingintheeighty-fourconsecutivedaysoffishing.HowcanotherpeoplewhoarefishermennotridiculeandlaughatSantiago,buthedidn’tcareabouttheserumorsandalwaysmaintainedaconfidentandoptimisticattitude.Attherequestofhisfather,Manolinalwaysaccompaniedhimtoworkonanotherboat.However,Santiagoisnotbecauseoftheridiculeofhispeersorthedepartureofhispartners.Heisnotnegativeanddecadent,nordoeshegiveuphisgoals.Heisstillfullofhopeforthefuture.Inaddition,HemingwayalsousedtheimageofManolintofoilSantiago’soptimismandopen-mindedness.Afterlosinghiswife,thelonelySantiagotookcareofeverythingaroundhimbyManolin.ThatisbecauseofManolin’sexistencethatSantiagoregainshisconfidenceinlifeandcontinuestoadheretohisfishingcareer.Fromtheabove,peoplecanseeeventhoughSantiagospentallhisstrength,whetherinthefaceofthiscruelrealityorinthefiercefightwithsharksandmarlin,theoldSantiagodidnotshowanyhelplessnessanddiscouragement,alonepassivityandabandonment.PeoplecanknowSantiagohadshownthereadersanoptimisticandopen-mindedattitudetowardslife,afirmbeliefandaconfidentposition.TheoptimismandconfidenceshownbySantiagoisnotblindandqualitative.Whatheshowsisthegraceandgraceoftheoppositesidetovariouspressures.3.1.3SolemnityandStirringIftheoldmanSantiagoisa“toughman”,itisjustaconclusiondrawnfromtheobjective,andthe“toughman”behavioroftheoldmanisactuallyahelplessandinevitableactionforcedbyfate.TheOldManandtheSeaisnotanimpassioned“eulogy”.Tobeexact,itisa:“sadsong”fullofHemingway’ssenseofhardshipandsenseofsurvivalcrisis.TheoldSantiagoisatragicfigureinthissadsong.Santiagohasdeepwrinklesonhisbackneck.Helooksverythinandhaggard.Therearemanybrownspotsonhischeeks.Becausethebenignskincancerationcausedbythereflectionofthesunonthetropicalsea.Thebrownspotsspreaddownclearlyfrombothsidesofhisface.Duetofrequentuseofropestopulllargefish,hishandsleftdeepscars,noneofwhichwerenew,andthesescarshadbecomeasoldasadesert.Sowhenhiseyesareclosed,hisfacelookslikeadeadman.Itwouldbetoofar-fetchedtojustunderstandsuchaphysicalcharacterizationasafoiltotheindomitablespiritualqualityandtheproudspiritoffacingtheunbearableburdenofphysicalstrength.Whatheportraysishissolemnimage.Heshouldhaveexperiencedtheerosionofwindandfrostovertheyears,sothathecan“becomelikeadesertwithoutfish”.Sohewillalsofightaloneonthevastseacoveredbythevastsky.Suchan“oldman”isactuallyapersonwholivesinadversityandbadluck.Santiagoalsodeeplyknowsthathewillnotbeluckyagain.Whatisrevealedhereistheoldman'salmostdesperatemoodforreallifeandfate.Hemingwayputsuchanoldfishermanontheseafarawayfromtheworld,andlethimsailonthesea,fightingwiththemarlinandsharks.Iftheboywerehere,theoldmanmighttakethebigfish.Itshowstheoldman’slonelinessandhelplessness.3.2TheImageoftheLittleBoyEachcharacterhasitsownshiningpoint.InTheOldManandtheSea,peoplecanseeafearlessandpersistentlittleboybyunderstandingtheconversationbetweenthelittleboyManolinandtheoldmanSantiago,aswellastheexperienceofthelittleboy.3.2.1FearlessnessThemostsimilaritybetweenboysandelderlypeopleliesintheirfearlessness,astheyarebothadvocatesofwisdomandheroicspirit.ThemostprominentmanifestationintheboyishiscompletelydifferentattitudetowardstheshipownerandSantiago.Theboyonlyreluctantlyacceptedhisparents’arrangementandwasnotconvinced.Fromtheperspectiveofmaterialgains,asafisherman,onlytheshipowneristhewinner,whiletheelderlyistheloser.ButtheboyalwaysbelievedthatSantiago,theoldmanwhohadbeenunluckyintheeyesofothers,wasthebestfisherman.Therearemanygoodfishermen,andsomeareveryamazing,butthebestfishermanisonlyone.Fortheactualwinner,theshipowner,hewasverydisdainful,thinkingthathewasjustlucky.Santiagoneverwantstodrivefaraway,onlyvaluesrealityandlackscourage;hecan’tseeanyloachesbelowtheseawherebirdshover,it’salmostblind:theboatownerneverallowshimselftohelphimcarrythings,hismindisnotopenenough,andhelacksthetrustamanshouldhaveinhiscompanions.Intermsofcourage,technicalexperience,andpersonality,heisfarfromSanDiego.Thebigfishthatthelittleboyandtheboatownerluckilycaught,comparedtotheoldman’sthree-dayadventureatsea,shouldgotohell.Intheeyesofaboy,itcannotbecomparedtoalittlefingerofanoldmanwithheroicspiritandtoughtemperament.TheboyiswillingtofishwithSantiagonotonlybecauseofSantiago’srichexperienceandsuperbskills,butalsobecauseSantiagoloveshimandtreatshimashislittleboy,friend,brother,andmorebecauseofSantiago’sheroicspiritandmanlyspirit,hedeeplyadmiresandisinfatuatedwithhim.Theoldman’sbeliefthatpeoplearenotbornforfailure.Apersoncanbedestroyed,butcannotbedefeateddeeplyinfluencedthelittleboy,makinghimbelievethatpeopleliveforthespiritofbraveryandforthefight.Hedecidednottocareabouthisparents’opinionsandwentfishingwiththeelderlybecausehehad“alotofthingstolearn”,notonlyaboutfishingtechniques,buthisfearlessspirit.He,liketheoldman,firmlybelievesthatgoingtothesea,daring,experiencingmorestorms,acceptingmoretraining,evenifonecannotcatchfish,isabeautifulstateofsurvivalinitself-fightingwithoutbeingdefeatedbylife.3.2.2PersistencePeoplecanalsofindthattherearemanysimilaritiesbetweentheboyandtheoldman:simplicity,optimism,andperseverance.Itisrarethatatayoungage,hehasalreadydevelopedamanlytemperament:hehasbeenlearningfishingwiththeoldmansincetheageoffive.Althoughhealmostlosthislifewhilelearningfishingwiththeoldman,thelittleboyisnotafraidofitandremainsenthusiasticaboutit.Peoplehavealwaysbeenloyalandinfatuatedwiththecareeroffishing,whichbelongstomen.Thisshowsachildwhohasbeenthreatenedbydeathandiscommittedtotheirlifeandcareer.Hedidn’tadmiretheshipowner,thinkingthathewasjustluckyandlookedinferiortohim,sohesecretlychallengedhim.Theelderlyshouldwakethemselvesup.Becauseitreflectstherarebeliefofbeingstrongandnevergivingupamongtheirpeers.Therefore,whenhecatchesfish,heusesthepositionofthebirdstodeterminethedirectionofthegroupofqiloaches,andcanalsocatchtwolargefishinaday.Fromthesituation,itcanbeseenthathenotonlyinheritssomeoftheexquisitefishingskillsandrichexperienceoftheelderly,butalsoinheritsthequalityofnevergivingupfromtheelderly.ThelittleboyhastheshadowofSantiagoonhisbody.Theboylookslikeapartoftheelderly,aSantiagoinadifferentstate.ChapterFourFactorsAffectingtheShapingofCharacterImageinTheOldManandtheSeaTherearemanyfactorsthataffecttheanalysisofcharacterimagesinnovels,whilethemainfactorsthataffecttheimagesoftheelderlySantiagoandtheyoungboyManolininTheOldManandtheSeaaresocialenvironmentandpersonalgrowthexperiences.4.1SocialandEnvironmentFactorsThemosttouchingaspectofTheOldManandtheSeaisreflectedinHemingway’sreflectiononthehumansocialenvironment.Theoldmanisnotjustanisolatedperson.Hemingwayportrayedhiminabroadcontextsuchassocietyandthesea,andthemeaningbehinditisthought-provoking.Hehopesthatintheprocessofconqueringfateandtheenvironment,humanscancorrectlylearntogetalongwithsociety,friends,opponents,andtheenvironment.Thewindkeptblowing.TheoldmanSantiagocouldnotseethesail,theboat,orthesmokefromtheboat.Hecouldonlyseeflyingfishflyingoutofthebowoftheshipandthenhurriedlyflyingoutfrombothsides.Buthecouldnotseeabird.However,thebigmarlinbegantoswimaroundthesmallboatquicklyandwrappedtheropeonthemast.Santiagoheldthesteelforkhighinhisrighthandatthemomentwhenitjumpedoutofthewater,hethrewitwithallhisstrength.Thisbigfishlostitslifeandfloatedquietlyonthesea.Itcanbeseenthattheoldmanhasthecourageandindomitablespiritthatordinarytoughmendonothave.Santiagodidnotcatchafishin84days,anddidnotloseheartandwenttoseaagain.Onthewayback,hefoughtagainstthefiercesharksthatatethefruitsofhiswork.Althoughtherewasonlyonefishrackleft,theoldmandidnotgiveup.Throughthisnovel,peoplecanclearlyfeelHemingway’sunderstandingandperceptionofsociallife,whichdeeplyinfluencedthepeopleofthatperiod.Trust,self-improvement,andself-esteemaretheeternalvaluesofhumanexistence.Heinspirespeopletochallengedifficultiesanddeath,andhiscodeofconductistofight,tofightnomatterwhathappens,evenifdeathisstillglorious,nevergivein.4.2PersonalGrowthExperienceFactorsPersonalexperience,asakeyfactoraffectingtheshapingofcharacters,playsanindispensableroleineveryliterarywork.InTheOldManandtheSea,theoldfishermanSantiagohasnotcaughtfishfor84days.Hispeersarefarawayfromhim,andthechildrenwhoadorehimmosthavealsolefthim.Ontheeighty-fifthday,hetookaboattoafarplaceandcaughtabigmarlintwofeetlongerthantheboat.Butthebigmarlinisaherointhefish:itissmart,calm,anddoesnotpanicwhenfighting.Theoldmanwasdraggedbyitfortwodaysandtwonights,andwasconstantlythrownontheboatbythewavesitraised.Thebackofthefishinglinehetookawaywassore,andhishandswerebloody.Atthattime,theoldmancouldgetoutofthedilemmabycuttingtherope,butinsteadofdoingso,heincreasedhisstrengthbydrinkingcoldwaterandeatingsashimi,andfinallysubduedthebigfishandcapturedhisdreamgoal.From“thenextmorning,abirdstoppedonthefishingline,andthelonelyoldmanexcitedlytalkedtothebird”,wecanseethelonelinessoftheoldman,andevenfeelthesolemnandstirringoftheoldman.ThelittleboyManolinbegantolearnfishingwiththeoldmanattheageoffive.Whentheoldmanfeltalittleguiltybecausehewantedtowakehimupearlyfromhissleepinafarplace,hestretchedouthisarmandhuggedthelittleboyandsaid,“Sorry.”Althoughthelittleboywassleepy,hesaid,“Amanshoulddothis.”,Thesonorousandpowerfulwordsgreatlyreflectedthestrengthandtenacityofthelittleboy.Everyone’slifeisnotsmoothsailing,andnotgivingupeasilyinthefaceofdifficulties,especiallyinthefaceoffailure,isthekeytoaperson’sultimatevictory.Hemingway’stoughguysgenerallyhavethischaracteristic:thesetoughguyshavehadgloriousmomentsintheirlives,theydominatedtheworldanddefeatedcountlesschallengerswiththeirstrength.However,withthepassageoftimeandtheincreaseofage,theynolongerhavethestrongspiritandabundantphysicalstrengthtoprovetheirvalue.However,atthistime,toughguysstillhavethespiritofnotgivingup,eveniftimecannotturnbackandlifecannotbereincarnated,theyalwaysplacetheirhopeinthenexttime,sotheirlivesalwaysshinewithtouchinglight.

ChapterFiveTheRevelationoftheCharactersinTheOldManandtheSeatotheContemporaryCollegeStudentsFromtheelderlySantiagoandtheyoungboyManolin,peoplecanlearnmanyexcellentthings,thatis,tobefearlessandunwillingtogiveupwhenfacingdifficulties,andalwaysmaintainanoptimisticandconfidentattitude.5.1Optimism,ConfidenceandUnyieldingnessInthefaceofdifficulties,everyone’slifeisnotsmoothsailing.Especiallyinthefaceoffailure,notgivingupeasilyisthekeytoone'sultimatesuccess.Hemingway’soldpeoplebearallthehardships,dangersandhelplessnessthattheymaysufferinlife.Inthefaceofstrongopponents,theelderlywillbestronger.Theoldmanonlyhasonegoalwhichistodefeattheenemy.Ineveryone’slimitedlife,everythingpeopleencountercannotbesatisfactory.Soeveryoneshouldtrytokeeponeselfoptimistic,open-mindedandcheerful.TheoldmanSantiagodescribedbyHemingwayisalwaysmaintainapositiveattitudetofacehisbadluck.Eveninthefaceofmisfortune,Santiagostillinsistedonthespiritofnevergivingup,andresolutelyrefusedtobowtofatewithatenaciouswillpower.Thereisnoreasonforanyonetogiveup.Peopleshouldhavethebeliefofstrivingforprogress.Theroleoffaithcannotbeunderestimated.Onlywiththesupportofspiritualfaithcanpeoplerealizetheirlifevalueandovercomethethornsandobstaclestheyencounter.Afterstruggling,theymustwaitforawonderfullife.Whenpeopleenterthesocialcircletoacceptthesocialbeatingsandtests,constantlyhonehiswill,stimulatehispotential,andfinallyrealizehislifevalueandhaveawonderfullife.However,formuchpeoplewhoarenewtothesociety,inthefaceofsocialtests,pressureatwork,difficultiesinlife,andchoicesinlife,itisinevitablethatpeoplewillchoosetogiveuporfacefailurelessonsinthefaceofcertainsetbacksandfrustrations.Atthistime,peopleshouldalwaysbelieveandimplythatthelightisnotfaraway,andsuccessbelongstothemselveswhodidnotgiveupatthebeginning.5.2FearlessnessandPositivenessSantiago,asoldierwhochallengesnaturewithamortalbody,facedbravelythevastandunknownsea.Theoldfishermandidnothesitateorshrink,andfacedhisunknownfutureanddestinywithanunyieldingattitude.Comparedwithfallingintotheabyssofself-sadnessanddespair,Santiago’sperseverancejusttellsthewayoutofthebittersea.HemingwayusedthestoryofTheOldManandtheSeatotellpeoplethatwhetheritisaccidentalsetbacksorinevitablefailures,peopleshouldfightbravely.Becauseitisthedignityofhumanbeings.Everyoneshouldhavethecouragetogotoseaontheeighty-fifthday,evenifyoudon’tgetanything.Peopleshouldinsistthatevenifthemarlinishuge,itseemsimpossibletocatchit;peopleshouldfight,evenifthefiercesharksareoneafteranother;peopleshouldfaceit,evenifyouonlybringbacktheskeletonofabigfish.Thatistheattitudeoflife.Everyone’slifeisanendlessrace.Duringtherace,peoplewillinevitablyfall,fallbehind,beconfusedanddisappointed,butatanytime,peoplewillalwayshaveasunoftheirownintheirheart.Itwillnotbesodazzlingandeye-catching,butitisenoughforpeople.Inshort,everyonecanovercomeeverythingwithoutfear.ChapterSixConclusionAndTheOldManandtheSeaisasummaryofatoughguy’slifeexploringthenatureofdeath.Hemingwaywantedtoadmitthedeathafewtimes.Nomatterhowconfidentandbraveheis,theycan’tgiveupthefateofdeath,becominglosers.Thedifferentkindsofmiseriesandmisfortunesofpeopleinthisworldaswellastheirstrugglingwiththefateareallrevealedintheoldman'sstoryoffishing.Wecansay,TheOldManandtheSeaisastoryofvictorynotafailurestory.AlthoughSantiagolosesthebattlewithsharksinthedefenseofhisgreatmarlin.Heholdshishumandignityand“compassionunderpressure”.Especially,thewaywhereheendureshislossandfac