A Review of The Old Man and The Sea(老人与海读后感)

A Review of “The Old Man and The Sea”

“The Old Man and The Sea”was written by Ernest Hemingway, in which tells us a story of a bravery fishing old man. He had no fish lasting for 84 days, but from the 85th days he finally captured a marlin. However, the marlin was so big that the old man struggles with it for three days. When the old man went back to his town, the fish suffered from the attack of several sharks. After he arrived at the land, there was only marlin’s head, tail and chine. I deeply have an impression on this novel, for the trait of the old man is greatest, that motivates me more bravery, courage, endurance.

At first day, the old man came back without fish, and the boy helped him carry the sail. Although the sail was furled, it was similar to the flag of permanent defeat. This reflects that the old man never lack hope and confidence. He loves fishing and be willing to try to do it once again in spite of coming back lonely every time. Next, when the old man and the boy talked about the cast net. In fact, the cast net was sold, but they still repeat this fiction every day. On one hand, the old man does not admit he has abjection, as a result it is quite important to be pride for himself. On the other hand, the boy loves the old man very much and would not like to hurt him. Afterward, the old man

fell asleep. When he closed his eyes, there was no life in his face. Here, the old man suffers from too many troubles in fishing. It seems that he slept at this moment until death, he felt very tired. However, he could not give up and lives bravely.

At second day, the old man set out to fishing. He chose the different direction from the other fisherman for hope. And he captured a big fish---marlin. At first he does not know how size the fish is, he just says marlin to bite in his heart, for he thinks that if you said a good thing it might not happen. In this point, what is to indicate is that excitement and hope of the old man, and kind of his religion belief. At the last part of the second day, he was exhausted and thought that he should not have been a fisherman. Since everything has been a foregone conclusion, it might not to be changed. So the old man wants to make efforts for his life. This is the meaning of the life. Overall the second day, one is the old man’s artistry in fishing. He is an artist and can read the sky, bird and fish. He regards bird, fish as his friends and brothers. This indicates he loves them. In the wide sea, he is alone and needs someone instead of the boy. Two is that, if there is no his revolution, optimistic and endurance, all we call the “spiritual support”, it is big possible to die for the old man.

At third day, the old man was very painful but fortunately he got the marlin. The marlin, the stronger and larger, means the old man, the greater and more unyielding. In this struggle, the old man is a true hero because of his self-confident and steadfastness. I think the old man loves the marlin, he regards it as his brother. Similarly, they own the same strength and power. Whatever the pain is means more hope for the old man.

At fourth day, the shark attacked the marlin. This is critical strike for the old man. But he said “A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Here, it restates the meaning of the life, not whether success or failure, but whether to struggle for himself. For the old man, shark is inevitable such as the plight of the life. However, he does not have any complain to it and can be calm and keep the belief all the time. Or it is a kind of rebirth. After the old man struggles with the sharks, what he gets is that some meaning of rebirth.

At fifth day, the old man went back the town. The boy saw the old man with the exhaust and just wished him to rest. This is the love.

In whole novel, what equally important role is the boy. After the old man goes fishing, he encounters the plight then he says “I need the boy”. And the boy cares about everything of the old

man. From here it can be seen that the old man and the boy love each other such as teacher and student, or parent and child, or friends. They are dependent and believable on each other. This is the faith and harmony, no war and agony.

I think one of the most primary skills in this novel is the symbolism. Marlin means personal dream and life seeking. Shark means unavoidable tragic fortune. Sea means changeable human society. Lions means bravery, strong and anti-wicked. The old man means the representative of struggling with vicious power. In other words, under the background of shadow force in a turbulent society, one person wants to change his miserable fortune even pursue his ideal unless be provided with bravery, strengthen, endurance. Thus, the old man often thought of the lions in Africa when he was young. That symbols the strong vitality and hope.