外国语学院107卜文雯
The old man and the sea
The old man and the sea is an story of a struggle between an old man,a seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life.For the past eight-four days,the old man has set to sea and returned empty-handed.Conspicuously unlucky,with the force from his parents,Manolin,the old man’s devoted apprentice and friend,left him in order to fish in a more prosper boat.However,the boy continues to care for the old man on his return each night.He helped the old man tote the gear to the hut,prepared food for him,and discued the lastest developments in American baseball,especially the trials of the old man’s hero,Joe DiMaggio.Under the example of Joe DiMaggio,the old man resolved to sail out farther the following day.
Until the eight-fifth day,a big marlin took the bait,which placed 100 fathons deep in the water.The old man hooked the fish but it is too heavy that he can’t pull it in.Instead,the fish begined to pull the boat.So the old man strained the line with his shoulders,back,and hands,ready to give slack when the marlin made a run.The fish pulled the boat all through the day,through the night,through another day,even another night.
On the third day,the fish gave in,and the old man has overworked,too.But he was excited by the price that the marlin will brought at market.As the old man sailed with the fish,the marlin’s blood left a trail in the water and attracted the sharks.And the old man had to attack them.In the struggle,the old man lost his harpoon and rope,which made him helple to other sharks’ attack.Finally,the sharks devour the marlin’s precious meat,leaving only skeleton,head,and tail.The old man chastised himself for sacrificing his great and worthy opponent.He arrived home daybreak,slept very deeply.
The next morning,a crowd of amazed fishermen gathers around,knowing nothing of the old man’s struggle.The boy fetched the old man some coffee and daily papers with baseball scores.When the old man woke,the two agree to fish as partners once more.
I’m very proud of the old man.He meets every challenge with the same unwavering determination.He was willing to die in order to bring the marlin,and he was willing to die in order to battle the sharks.It was this conscious decision to act,to fight,to never give up that enabled him to avoid defeat.The succe and honour he creat came not from his battle itself but from his pride and determination to fight.
The little boy is a warm-hearted person.He demonstrates his love for the old man openly.Although he has forced to leave the old man,he makes sure that the old man has food,blankets,and can rest without being bothered.His purity and selfle of purpose elevate him to the level of a symbolic characters.By the end of the story,the boy abandons his duty to his father,swearing that he will sail with the old man regardle of the consequences.As the old man’s apprentice,he also represents the life that will follow the death.His dedication to learn from the old man ensures that the old man will live on.
At the end of the story,the old man dreamed his pleasant dream of the lions at play on the beach of Africa.In my opinion,I think the dreams mean the wonderful things in the world.We see,the old man didn’t catch anything until on the eighty-fourth day,everybody in his town looked down on him.But the fact that he dreamed of the lions at play rather than on the hunt which indicated that he is confident with himself.
The old man and the sea announced the spirit of never give up,the brave when you are struggling against others.This vigor is also be neceary in our mordern society.
