《老人与海》象征主义探究

摘　要

被威谦、福克纳誉为“这代人最优秀的一个单篇”的《老人与海》是硬汉子海明威的力作，而对于《老人与海》的象征主义，评论界各执已见，海明威本人的解释也模棱两可。而小说中主人翁桑提亚哥和生存环境、大海、鲨鱼、小孩等角色实际上并非角色本身，表面上简单的角色及故事情节有着深刻的象征意义，所以笔者希望从文章的主人公、其生存环境等各个方面对其象征主义进行剖析、总结和归纳《老人与海》的象征手法以及海明威的人生观在各象征因素中的体现,以期能帮助读者更好地理解这部作品。 

关键词

海明威；象征因素；冰山原理; 生存环境; 人生观

Contents

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………Ⅰ

Key Words……………………………………………………………………….........Ⅰ

摘要………….…………………………………………………………....................Ⅱ

关键词…………………………………………………………………………….…Ⅱ

Introduction…………………………………………………………………................1

Ⅰ.Introduction to the Background…………………………………….......................2

Ⅱ. The Symbolism in the Works………………………………………....................3

A. The Definition of Symbolism…………………………………………...…..........3

B. Major Symbols in The Old Man and the sea……………………......................4

1. The Old Man—the Best Expression to “the Unyielding Character” ……..........4

2. The Boy—the Best Supplement for “the Unyielding Character”…………….6

3. The Sea—the Symbol of Hemingway’s Survival Environment……..................7

4. The Shark—A Powerful Deputy of the Evil Force………………....................9

5. The Marlin—the Symbol of Achievement……………...........................……10

6. Other Symbolical Factors…………………………………………..................11

III. Hemingway’s Philosophy of Life Reflected by the Symbols in The Old Man and the Sea……………………………………………………………………………......12

A. Hemingway’s Philosophy of Life in The Old Man and the Sea………………...12

B. Hemingway’s Attitude towards the Society Reflected through the Symbol of the 

Sea. …………………………………………………………………………………13

C. Hemingway’s Attitude towards the Enemy Reflected through the Symbol of the Shark..……………………………………………………………………………...13

D. Hemingway’s Attitude towards the Achievements Reflected through the Symbol of the Marline………………………………………………………………………...14

Conclusion…………………………………………………………….........................15

Acknowledgements………………………………………………….........................16

Notes………………………………………………………………………..................17

Bibliography………………………………………………………………..................18

Abstract

The Old Man and the Sea, praised by a famous writer as “the most excellent simple article in this generation”, is a masterpiece of the unyielding man—Hemingway. But with regard to the symbolism, it has been talked differently, and was equivocal in the explanation by Hemingway himself. The Protagonist, the living environment, the sea, the Shark, the Marlin are not themselves but have significant symbolical meaning. Here the author will analyze its symbolism thoroughly through some aspects such as the leading character，the living environment and Hemingway’s philosophy of life reflected by the symbols, with a view to help the reader get a better understanding of Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece．

Key Words

Ernest Hemingway; the symbolic factors; iceberg theory; the living environment； philosophy of life