Destruction or Succe Ernest Miller Hemingway, a famous American novelist, his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations.He enlisted with the world War Ⅰambulance drivers, but he was seriously wounded and returned home.His wartime experiences formed the basis for his novel A Farewell to Arms.Also he was presented at the World War Ⅱand get injured.The Old man and the Seais Hemingway’s final full-length work published during his lifetime, written in 1951 in Cuba.He wrote the draft of the book in eight weeks, and felt quite satisfied with it.And in May 1953, the novel received the Pulitzer Price and was specifically cited when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.When Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize, it was for \"his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style.Shortly after the publication of The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway went on safari to Africa, where he was almost killed in two succeive plane crashes that left him in pain or ill health for much of his remaining life.Finally, on July 2, 1961, Hemingway committed suicide.
The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of a battle between an aging, experienced fisherman, Santiago, and a large marlin.The story opens with Santiago having gone 84 days without catching a fish, and suffering the worst unluckine.He is so unfortunate that his young apprentice, Manolin, has been forbidden by his parents to sail with him.But the boy still visits Santiago’s shack each night, and takes good care of him.Santiago ventures again, far out into the Gulf Stream.On the eighty-fifth day of his unlucky streak, Santiago has his bait taken by a big fish that he is sure is a marlin.Though wounded by the struggle and in pain, Santiago exprees a compaionate appreciation for his adversary, often referring to him as a brother.On the third day, Santiago worn out and almost delirious uses all his remaining strength to pull the fish onto its side and stab the marlin with a harpoon.Santiago straps the marlin to the side of his skiff and heads home.On his way in to shore, sharks attacked him.He fights against them bravely, not only the sharks, but nature,”salao” and life.In the end,Santiago returns home exhaustedly, though there is only the fish’s skeleton left. The scene that Santiago fights against the sharks still keeps me alive.What he said that “Man is not made for defeat.A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” always appears in my mind.And I believe this sentence has encouraged a lot of people to face the difficulties and to deal with them bravely.To be honest, when I saw the sentence at the first time, I cannot agree it.Why a man can be destroyed but not defeated? I think life is the most important thing in our life; men cannot give up their lives easily.And failure is quite common in our daily life, why a man will choose to be destroyed instead of to be defeated? However in that condition, it is easy to understand the reason.Because Santiago is regarded as a failure, because he is suffering the worst misfortune, because he is not trusted be others, he needs a challenge to prove himself.As a result, he decides to put the life to wrestle in such an extreme situation.This is miserable story, it describes a miserable hero.After reading the novel, I am confused that why the author did not let Santiago win in the end.The story of the old man symbolizes the in destructible spirit of human beings.At the end of the story, the old man said,” They beat me, Manolin.They truly beat me.” I can get the feeling that he had, how disappointed, how desperate, and how sad.In the reality, Santiago is a failure, but he succeeds in the spirit.His insistent struggle shows the dignity of human beings.In a way, victory is not important in the novel.What makes me admire is that Santiago dares to break down all the barriers over and over again.What he brings to all of us is a great confidence, a strong spirit.I have learned a lot from the book, especially the attitude towards failure and succe.Wearenotlimitedbytheplaceofourbirth,thecolor ofourskin,thecreedofourculture,theflagofourcountryor the circumstancesofour past.Weare onlylimited by the magnitudeofourvision,theextentofourfaithandthevastne ofourwillingnetotakeaction.If no one believes in you, then believe in yourself and as long as you live.When no one else will give you the encouragement that you so long for, then take hold of the podium of your own heart and encourage yourself.Failure is not horrible; the most horrible thing is giving in to the failure.What is the hero? In my opinion, the real hero will face the trouble bravely, will challenge it, will beat it, and will be a better man.The author also suffered a lot in his life, war, physical illne and mental illne.Although he committed suicide, he did deal with the trouble fearlely.Our life is just like the venture of the old man, we will meet a great number of difficulties.However, what we should do is put a bold front on them.Please remember we will be stronger if we fight against them, even though we fail in the end.In a word, this book will put you in touch with the hidden seeds of your succe and mobilize you to take action.It awakens your collective consciousne and faces you with your own greatne, with your higher miion.
