Abstract: Ernest Miller Hemingway, a prominent representative of the “lost generation” writers of the United States, was one of the most famous novelists of the twentieth century.  The Old Man and the Sea is the most famous novel of Hemingway. Hemingway displayed an image who was a hard man in the Old Man and the Sea by describing the process of fierce fighting in the deep sea between the Santiago who was the leading character and the big marlin. He showed the profound meaning of a sentence to people with actual actions. That is to say, a man can be destroyed, but not defeated. In the first place, this thesis gives a brief introduction to the social background of article writing, the author and the theoretical basis of the analysis of the thesis. Then, the novel displayed an image who was a tough guy by analyzing and comparing the two characters of Santiago and the little boy on the one hand, Santiago, he fought for his goal-marlin. On the other hand, the work enlightened people to face setbacks and failures courageously in our daily life. Although getting a big skeleton in the end, he was so valiant to struggle with a crowd of sharks. We should learn the courageous spirit. Therefore, as a student, we should be filled with confidence and faith that keep fighting.

Key words: The Old Man and the Sea    Santiago    Character analysis   Philosophical enlightenment     Tenaciousness

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Introduction-1

Chapter 1 Theoretical Foundation of the Thesis-3

1.1 The Definition, Aspects and Significance of Character Analysis-3

1.2The Definition and Significance of Philosophical Enlightenment-5

Chapter 2   The Character Analysis in the Work-6

2.1   The Character Analysis of Santiago-6

2.1.1 A Younger Person-6

2.1.2 An Amiable Father-6

2.1.3 A Hard Man.-7

2.2   The Character Analysis of the Manolin-7

2.2.1 The Symbol of Youth.-7

2.2.2 The Symbol of Dream.-8

2.2.3 The Symbol of Love.-8

Chapter 3   Philosophical Enlightenment in the Work-9

3.1 The Philosophical Enlightenment to People-9

3.2 The Philosophical Enlightenment to Society-10

Conclusion-12

References-13

Acknowledgements-14