The man can be destroyed but never be defeated--The old and the sea (2)

This is the most inspiring novel I have ever read, Ernest Hemingway used his brief and forceful statements created a vivid character. But his suicide make me reconsidered. I don’t believe a man who can write these novels was with a weak heart. You might have read that Hemingway died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but hereditary hemochromatosis, iron overload, bronze diabetes was undoubtedly the underlying cause of his deat In the book, I was touched by some details. Santiago did not catch a fish during 84 days. On the morning of the 85th day, he decided to go to the farther sea, when he saw the  After long time waiting, he caught a marlin fish, but it didn’t appeared on the surface. Then the old man said “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.” After three days, the marlin finally was defeated by Santiago. But the story doesn’t end here, it just a beginning.The smelt of blood attracted the sharks, Santiago said,”a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. It is also the most important theme in the book, which is never say never. Another theme in this book is evident,” Success in the achievement of being carries with it the most valued of man’s possessions, the capacity for love.” Santiago loved the fish, the sea and nature, such as the porpoises around his boat. He loved his job as well, he spent his whole life in fishing and never stopped. His connection with fish is strong, so he wondered if it is ethical to kill it, if killing is a sin.

The man can be destroyed but never be defeated--The old and the sea (1)

In the book, I was touched by some details. Santiago did not catch a fish during 84 days. On the morning of the 85th day, he decided to go to the farther sea, when he saw the  After long time waiting, he caught a marlin fish, but it didn’t appeared on the surface. Then the old man said “I’ll stay with you until I am dead.” After three days, the marlin finally was defeated by Santiago. But the story doesn’t end here, it just a beginning.The smelt of blood attracted the sharks, Santiago said,”a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. It is also the most important theme in the book, which is never say never. Another theme in this book is evident,” Success in the achievement of being carries with it the most valued of man’s possessions, the capacity for love.” Santiago loved the fish, the sea and nature, such as the porpoises around his boat. He loved his job as well, he spent his whole life in fishing and never stopped. His connection with fish is strong, so he wondered if it is ethical to kill it, if killing is a sin.

Through the experience of protagonist, Santiago, his brave, indomitable and bigoted personality is worthy of our admiration. Santiago was a common man, but his character doomed him not to be ordinary. Ernest Hemingway once said, “everything he wrote was based on experience; and few men have experienced so much.The old man is presented from beginning to end as one who has achieved true existence. His response to every situation is the response of a spiritually fulfilled man.Initially, we commiserate in his meager existence, but admire him in his determination to break his run of bad luck. He doesn’t need any of our commiseration; the strong will never need it. He has the most strongest power in his heart, which is a dream. As what he said, a man can be destroyed but not defeated. Was he defeated by the sharks? Absolutely not. “Similarly the novel posits two kinds of defeat: Failure to compete successfully in a materialistic, opportunistic world where this only is the measure of a man and failure to maintain one's being regardless of external defeat. Thus the real story concerns the meaning, in terms of fundamental human values, of human existence.” I think it is easy to beat a person in one hand, such as force. But it is hard to defeat him when he has a strong heart. In China, there is a proverb what is “Failure is the mother of success”. Nothing can defeat a man only if he lost his persuasion.

'A tale of two cities' (2)

           "She kisses his lips; He kisses hers. Now the Guillotine is waiting. The young girl goes next, before him. The women count Twenty--Two, and Carton walks forward."
            This scene gives me a feeling that Carton isn't a lonely people and he has found a true friend in the end. Because as readers, I believe that everyone will admire Carton's behavior and we are both wish that the story can have a happy ending. Some people think the young woman in the nobel ending is redundant. But this role isn't a redundant character, she is the person that can prove the writer's personality--perfect.
              Another important role is feminine lead's husband Charles. Charles is graceful and noble. He was the nephew of Marquis of Evermonde. To the opposite of his uncle, Darney was a kind and in dependent young man. Although he knows France is the best dangerous place in the world, in order to his conscience, he leaves his wife and daughter and goes to the France. He is a responsible and disinterested people.
               'A tale of two cities' has its difference with the general historical novel, its character and the main plot are all fictionalizes.

A tale of two cities (1)

          'The tale of two cities' was written by Charles Dickens. It is his most important representative works. And Dickens occupies important position in England literature history.

                 The background to the novel is the revolution of France. It portrayed a brutal and bloody story, but it also contained love and friendship. 'A tale of two cities' isn't a love story completely and not just a revolutionary story. 'The tale of two cities' is different from other historical fictions. Its characters and main plots are fictional under the real background of the fictional character Dr.Manette as the main clue. The plots are complicated, and they are flexuous and dramatic. The structure is complete and rigorous. I think the theme of the story is if you love someone, you should give him freedom and shouldn't tie him with your love. When I watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Li Mu Bai said to Xiu Lien, when I clench my hand, there is nothing inside. It is the same meaning.

My Favorite Poem

My favorite poem is 'A View of Taishan' which is written by TuFu. He is the most famous poet during Chinese history. Different LiBai, his poem let readers feel grieved and upset, it is because he live in the end of the Tang Dynasty. It was going downhill. 

　　What shall I say of the Great Peak?
　　The ancient dukedoms are everywhere green,
　　Inspired and stirred by the breath of creation,
　　With the Twin Forces balancing day and night.
　　I bare my breast toward opening clouds,
　　I strain my sight after birds flying home.
　　When shall I reach the top and hold
　　All mountains in a single glance?

In the first several sentences of the poem, the author expressed that the Taishan was beautiful and magnificent. The last two sentence, when Tufu was on the top of the Taishan, he found out all the others were that small, all the hard climbing was deserved. It let readers feel the big ambition of the author. He wanted to serve for his country. The poem let me feel like I am on the top of the Taishan too. 

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

            Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese movie directed by Ang Lee, who won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for this movie. I have seen this movie twice. The first time I saw it, I was only 10 years old, I cannot understand its deep meaning, I am only attracted by its beautiful scene and exciting fights in it. 

There is a line talked to Jen by Yu Shu Lien at the end of the movie, "Promise me one thing, whatever path you take in life, be true to yourself." First she wanted to kill her because Li Mu Bai died for her, but she didn't. She let her go. Be true to yourself is the main theme of this movie. Everyone in the movie have their own story, own dream. But some of them are not true to themselves. Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien loved each other for many many years. But because their morality, they have never acknowledged or acted on them. When Li Mu Bai was dying, he told Yu Shu Lien that he loved her so much, but it was too late, they can't be together any more. Yu Shu Lien wanted Jen be true to herself, do the things she really wanted to do. Don't regret at the last.