Analyzing Isak Dinesen from Out of Africa
-----Exploring the meaning of life
ABSTRACT
The famous novel of Out of Africa, written by Isak Dinesen, can perhaps be regarded as one of the distinguished autobiographical novels in the western literature in 19th century. It is not a book that favours readers with its stories and plots but enlighten others with the delicate prose connotation as well as the deep attachment to the land and people of Africa. So far as I know, Isak Dinesen was nominated with Nobel Prize twice. And this novel, condensed through the painstaking efforts of the author, has been adopted into a movie in 1986, which brought about an international reputation to the author of the novelist after winning six items of Oscar awards. Compared to the reputation she has won, the author’s personal experience is far more stimulating and intricate. With 17 years of life experience in Africa, Dinesen explored the meaning of life, thus establishing her particular consciousness of female subjectivity.
In an attempt to discuss what Dinesen has done as to exploring the meaning of life, the paper is aimed to analyze the writer through this book. My studies will include her background, her interior life when she arrived in Africa at first, and the process of mixing with nature and African black natives, etc. In addition, we have also analyzed her spirit to pursue freedom and her strong volition to make survival on the continent totally new to her with remembrance of the unfaithfulness of her husband, and the death of her lover. Though she has shown her indifference to fame and wealth as a writer, her pioneering spirit is still inspiring her readers to imitate and inherit the spiritual wealth she has left to us. Furthermore, it provides a broad thinking space for the people who live in some outermost frontier, and an authentic access to the unbelievable hardships that a woman can endure and choose a meaningful hard life as she has dedicated herself to from the prospective of a female. Besides, the novel also presents great enlightenment onto us through its though-going exploration of the fate and survival and value of the human beings.
Key words: Out of Africa Meaning of life Humanism Feminism Consciousness of Independence
从《走出非洲》分析伊萨·迪内森的人生追求
——探索生命的意义
摘 要
《走出非洲》是一部自传体小说，它是丹麦著名女作家伊萨克·迪内森最著名的一部小说，它不靠故事情节来哗然取众，却带着浓浓的散文内涵，饱含着作者对非洲风土人情的深深眷念之情。伊萨克·迪内森曾两次获诺贝尔文学奖提名，而这部凝聚了她多年心血的作品，在她逝世多年后被改编为电影，还赢得了奥斯卡奖，更为作者带来了国际声誉。然而作者的亲身经历却比作品更为传奇动人。在这部作品中，她以17年的亲生经历和体验，探索了生命的意义，以及女性主体意识的确立。
本文通过对这部作品来分析伊萨克·迪内森成长背景，以及她走进非洲之初到走出非洲之后，在与自然和土著人民的慢慢融合中经历的心路过程，探讨作者在这部小说中如何探索生命的意义。此外，她对非洲人民那份浓厚的热爱之情，那追求自由的本性，在经历了丈夫的出轨，咖啡园失火，情人惨死后，仍旧带着感激与怀念之情，独自一人坚强地生活着，还有她作为一名作家的那份淡泊名利之心等等，这一切对我们来说都是一个很大的启发，一笔极难得的精神财富。《走出非洲》给处于边缘地带的人们，提供了广阔的思考空间，从女性的角度很好地思考了人应该如何度过一生的问题，同时，它还对人的命运与存在意义进行了深刻的探索。
关键词：【走出非洲】 生命的意义 人文主义 女性主义 独立意识
CONTENTS
Abstract I
Abstract（in Chinese） II
1. A brief introduction to the book 1
1.1 About the novel 1
1.2 General review of the story and subjects of the novel 1
2. Karen Blixen—the author of Out of Africa 1
2.1 Isak Dinesen, the pseudonym of Karen Blixen, and her writing background 1
2.2 Criticism on Out of Africa 2
3. About exploration—a brave pioneer in exploring Africa 2
3.1 At the beginning of exploration—entering Africa 2
3.2 The difficulty of exploration experienced by the author in Africa 3
3.2.1 Women and nature—a blend of nature 3
3.2.2 European settlersfriendship between colonists and aborigines 4
3.2.3 The author and the aborigines 5
3.2.3.1 Dinesen and Kamante (a native child) 5
3.2.3.2 Farah (a servant of Dinesen) and the author 5
3. 2.2.3 Best picture of 1985 unforgettable movie moment 6
3. 3 Fighting for fate 6
3.3.1 For pride 6
3.3.2 Regretlessness and perseverance in cherishing her love 7
4. Conclusion 7
References 9
Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………...10
