Never give up
The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most influential works and it may very well become one of the true classics of this generation. It played an important role in his winning the Pulizer Prize in 1953 and the 1954 Novel Prize for Literature and confirmed his presence in the literary world.
This book is mainly about an old fisherman named Santiago fighting against a large marlin. After eight-four days without taking a fish, Santiago finally caught a marlin even larger than his boat. After a difficult fight, he eventually stabbed the harpoon into the heart of the Marlin on the third morning. However, the blood of marlin attracted so many sharks. Even though the old man killed them one by one, the marlin still can’t escape the fate of being eaten. In the end, the old man dragged back a huge fish bone exhaustedly. He came home to lie in the bed and had to seek for his beautiful years from his dreams.
What impressed me most is Santiago’s attitude towards life. In some respects, he failed without bringing the whole fish, but on the other hand, he gained spiritual victory. He was old, unlucky and unsuccessful, but he persisted in his efforts and can win the defeat in his demeanor. Nature can never be conquered, but persistence and gameness are admirable.
The Old Man and the Sea is not just a story about an old man and the fish, it tells us something spiritual and valuable. ‘He felt faint again now but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could. I moved him, he thought. Maybe this time I can get him over. Pull, hands, he thought. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. Last for me. You never went. This time I'll pull him over.’ This paragragh is the most touching to me. The physic condition is too difficult, but his willpower was so strong that he constantly encouraged himself and can keep going. After reading this, every time when I feel that it’s too hard for me to carry on, I will motivate myself in this way. Surprisingly, it worked in most time. When I started to believe I can, I can truly make it. ‘My big fish must be somewhere. ‘Believe it or not, people who are always self-motivated and have faith are easy to succeed.
The Old Man and the Sea also tells people to discover the positive side of things. As it is said ‘Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.’ Self-pity has no meaning, making full use of what you have are more worthwhile.
Hemingway wrote this book in memory of Gregorio Fuentes, an old mexican fisherman. The fisherman moved him, and Hemingway wrote down his story to express tough guy spirit moved people over the world. This is a book that combines faith, will, tenacity, courage and strength. As Santiago said,’ But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” And this is what it is like to be indestructible.
京公网安备 11010802032529号