超越死亡-《乞力马扎罗山上的雪》中死亡轨迹的探讨英语本科毕业论文

重庆大学城市科技学院本科学生毕业论文超越死亡——《乞力马扎罗山上的雪》

中死亡轨迹的探讨GraduationThesisofCityCollegeofScienceand

TechnologyChongqingUniversityBeyondDeath—AStudyoftheDeathTrackinTheSnowsofKilimanjaro#IntroductionBriefintroductionoftheauthorErnestMillerHemingwaywasborninOakPark,IllinoisandwasanAmericannovelist,shortstorywriter,andjournalist.Hewaspartofthe1920sexpatriatecommunityinParis,aswellastheveteransofWorldWarOne.LaterhewasregardedasthespokesmenfortheLostGeneration.HereceivedPulitzerPricein1953forTheOldManandtheSeaandtheNobelPriceinliteraturein1954.Hemingway'sdistinctivewritingstyleischaracterizedbyeconomyandunderstanding.Ithadasignificantinfluenceonthedevelopmentoftwentieth-centuryfictionwriting.Hisprotagonistsaretypicallystoicmanwhohasanidealdescribedas“graceunderpressure”ManyofhisworksarenowconsideredcanonicalinAmericanliterature.Hemingwayincorporatedthedeepunderstandingofdeathintohisownlifeconsciousnesswithunique,graveandsternsight.TheSnowsofKilimanjarohasbeencalledHemingway'sshortstorymasterpiece.HewrotethestoryafterhisfirstsafaritoAfricaandwassofascinatedbytheplacethathetoldreportershewantedtogotobackassoonashehadenoughmoney.AwealthywomanreadhisremarksandofferedtofinancethetripforHemingway,hiswifeandherself.Hemingwayturnedherdown,buthewonderedwhatthetripwouldhavebeenlikeifhehadgone,andthestorywasbornfromthatnotion.In1961,Hemingwaycommittedsuicidebecausehecouldnotbeerdepressionandtormentbyfailingartisticandphysicalpower.AboutthefictionThefictionofTheSnowsofKilimanjarohasjustonetheme-death.Theauthordemonstratesitfromdifferentaspects.Fromtheperspectiveofsymbolicmeaning,forexample,baldeagleandthedeadleopardonthetopofthemountainKilimanjaro,theyallimplythecomingdeath.Thetheme,death,weallcanfeelthrougheachoneofword.Inthestory,whilefacingtheimminentdeathonanAfricantrip,awritergoesinandoutofconsciousness.Ontheonehand,duringhisclearlyawareness,heargueswithhisloverandseemsondestroyingher.Ontheotherhand,duringhisunconsciousordream-likestates,heremembershislifeandhadinsightintowhyhewassodegenerated.Hehasregrets,fears,andsomewonderfulmemories.ThesememoriesarebasedonHemingway'sownexperienceandprofessionalcareer.ThestorycentersonthememoriesofawriternamedHarrywhoisonsafarionAfrica.Hedevelopsaninfectedwoundfromapunctureandliesawaitinghisslowdeath.Thislossofphysicalcapabilitycauseshimtolookinsightofhimself-hismemoriesofthepassyears,andhowlittlehehasactuallyaccomplishedinhiswriting.Herealizesthatalthoughhehasseenandexperiencedmanywonderfulandastonishingthingsduringhislife,hehasneverfoundthetruemeaningoflifeandamassofemptinessstuffwithhismind.Healsoquarrelswiththewomanwithhim,blamingherforherlivingdecadentlyandmakinghimforgethisfailure.Hewantstowritewhatreallymattertohim,namelyhisexperiencesamongpoorandinterestingpeople,nottheupperclassthosewhohavefallenintolately.Originally,Harryhasthepotentialitytomakeachievementsinwriting,buthewastedhistalentduetolying,laziness,incontinence,andindulgenceincomfortablelife.Hehasdiedspirituallyevenbeforehegetsaninfection.Thushedies,havinglivedthroughsomuchandyethavinglivedonlyforthemoment.InadreamheseesaplanecomingtogethimandtakehimtothetopofKilimanjaro.Aboutthetheme-deathDeathisagraveandsolemntheme.Nomatterpeopleholdwhatkindofattitudetowarddeath,onepointofviewwillnotchange—everyoneisfearofit.Becausepeopleliveintheworldwherehehasalreadyveryfamiliarwithandheaccustomedtodealwithitbyharmoniousways.Ifoneday,hehavetoenterastrangewordthatbefilledwithdreads,heabsolutelyresistitwithextremelyreluctantmoods.Humanbeingscannotsurewhatarewaitingfortheminanotherword.Inaddition,therearesomanyoflegendsandbookswhichvividlydescribethecruelsceneofthehell.Peoplealwaysfeelaburstofcoldwindfromthebackspinewhenheardoftheeighteenthhell.Ontheotherhand,duetopeoplehavemasteredlittleinformationaboutdeath,humanbeingsalsohaveafeelofmysterytowarddeath.Besides,apersonwhodiedshallnotcomebacktothelivingword,letalonetosayhehadopportunitytotelluswhatonearththehellanddeathare.Therefore,facedwithasubjectofdeath,whichnotonlybefulloffearandmystery,butalsohasafeelofhelplessness.However,humanbeingsstillwanttoexplorethisunsearchableareawithunlimiteddynamic.Ingenerally,Chinesepeopleusuallyholdaconservativeattitudetodeath."Lifeisaunknownarea,howfurthertalkaboutdeath."whichcomesfromConfucius.Ofcourse,avoidingtheissuesofdeathdoesnotmeanancientscholarsdidnotmakeanyresearchofdeath.China'sConfucianismservesasaschoolofthoughtemphasizethevalueofhumanbeingsandithadmadeagooddealofstudyaboutthequestionoflifeanddeath.Comparedwithdeath,Chinesefocusonlife.TheviewsoflifeanddeathoftheConfucianismlaysemphasisonkeepingforgingaheadwhenoneislive,whilemaintainingastateoftranquilwhenonedied.Neverdelayhopesanddreamstothenextminute,justtrytolivethiscurrentwordwithoutanywaste.So,intermsofConfucianism,allofmentalactivitiesofpeoplemustbesurroundedonecenter,thatishowtolivebetterandhowtogainthemostofhappinessinthecontemporaryera.ThepointofviewofConfucianismillustratesthattheyarecopingwiththisquestionfromperspectiveoflayingstressonliferatherthandeathortalkingaboutlifewithoutmentionanythingsofdeath.Incontrary,westerncountrieswritershadgivensomanyofdiscussionontheissueofdeath.ComparedwithChina'sreservedattitude,westernwriterattitudearemoreboldandopen.Amoreinterestingthingwasthattherewerefewfamouswriterswholovedtodepictthenovelofdeath,forexample,Hemingway,EdgarAllanPoeandsoon.AsfarasIknow,thereasonwhytheydonotavoidthesubjectofdeathisthattheyaredeeplyinfluencedbytheirreligion—Christian.Intheirreligionethic,peoplearenotfearedofdeath,inreturn,tothem,deathradicallyisnotapresentofsorrowandpain,whileakindofrelease.ForeveryChristianbelievedthat,hejustisatransienttravelerinthewordandthetruemeaningofhomeisnotherebutontheheaven.Thereby,theycanfrightwithdeathwithrelievedattitudes.ThesisstatementBythreewaystostudythesubjectofdeaththathasembodiedinTheSnowsofKilimanjaro-theperspectiveofsymbolicmeaning,theperspectiveofthestreamofconsciousnessandthechangingattitudetowarddeathHarrytaken-torevealtherealitymeaningofdeathandhaveadeepunderstandingofHemingway'sworksondeath,further,readerscanformtheirownideasofdeathandpossesstheabilitytoholdonone'sowndistinctiveviewsandidentifyorappreciateit.LiteraturereviewThestreamofconsciousnessAmongHemingway'sshortstories,especiallyinTheSnowsofKilimanjaro,hesuccessfullyappliedofstreamofconsciousness.JustasthescholarWuLingobserves,inthisstory,Harr'sconsciousnessunceasinglyshiftingbetweenhisimaginationandreality.Hisconsciousnessdividedintotwothreads.DuringconversationsbetweenHarryandHelen,Harr'sconsciousnessreturnsfromimaginationtoreality.TheotherisHarr'sremembranceofhispasslifewhenhisconsciousnessoppositelyflowsfromrealitytoimagination.Thesetwothreadsadvanceforwardaccordingtotheirconsequenceoftime.Andthestoryismadeupthesimultaneousdevelopmentofthetwoparts.Facingthecomingdeath,hecouldrealizethatthehero'ssoulhasexperiencedaprocessfrompurenesstodegradation,andfinallytorevivalorsalvation.Hisconsciousnessvaryfromhappinesstoboredomorangry,andeventuallytothecomplicatedandprofoundlycontemplatesondeathandlife.<qtd.WuLing.2012>SymbolismInaddition,symbolismisanotherwayforHemingwaytoelaboratehisthemedeathofbodyandimmortalityofspirit.Althoughattheendofthestory,authordonotgivenadefiniteending,whetherHarryisdieornot,allthereadershaveclearlyknownthatthiswillbeormustbeatragicresultsincethewholestoryispervadedbyanatmosphereofdeath,whichisindicatedbytheimageofsnow,Kilimanjaro,baldeagleandhyena.TheimageofsnowThesnowthatcoveredintheKilimanjarosymbolizedthepurityandimmortalityofspirit.Thoughapersoncouldnotavoidthephysicaldeath,hisspiritcouldbeimmortalaswellasonthetopofKilimanjarothatnevermelt.<qtd.WuLing.2012>TheimageofKilimanjaroThemountainKilimanjaroisalsocalled“thehouseofGod”,namely,thismountainisthepassagethattowarddeathandthenarisetoheavenandarebornplaceafterpeople'sspiritsarewashedbypurityandholy.Thereby,themountainofKilimanjaroisaloftyanddignifiedplace.Butthewillofconqueringitssummitalsosymbolizedtheunyieldingspirit.<qtd.WuLing.2012>TheimageofleopardLeopardisananimalthatlivingbyprey.Inordertosurvive,itmustbepreyandpursuethetargetsonebyone.Thoughtheleopardherefailedinitsseeking,itstillcomestothewestsummit.Itdiedbutitscarcasswasneverdecayedandalsobecomesthesymbolofunyieldingspirit.<qtd.WuLing.2012>TheimageofbaldeagleAtthebeginningofthestory,Hemingwayconciselydescribesthemovementsofthebaldeagle.LikewhatHarryside,itwastheodorofthecutthatbroughtthesecarnivores.Theywaitedoutside,whichforebodedthecomingofhisdeath.Andshadowsthatmadebybirds'flyingalsosymbolizethenearapproachingthepowerofdeath.<qtd.WuLing.2012>TheimageofhyenaHyenaisanimportantimageinthestory.Itsappearanceiscloselyassociatedwiththedeathinthestory.Itwastherepresentativeofhisdegenerativelifeandspiritualdeathwhenhelivesaparasiticlife.Itisknowthathyenalivesontheleftoverofthecreature.Itpassivelywaitstheleftoverinsteadofactivelyseekingthefood.ThiswayoflivingisthesamewithHarry's.Bingapromisingwriter,Harrygaveuphispursuitandtradedhistalentwithhisloverinordertoenjoythehedonicpleasurewithoutanyefforts.<qtd.WuLing.2012>ThechangingattitudetowarddeathTheattitudeofHarrytowarddeatharechangingwiththetimegoes.Atfirst,hewasnotawareoftheconceptofdeathatallandarbitrarywastehistime.Asapromisingwriter,buthehavelosthimselfinthefaceofwealthanddesireandheconqueredbytheabysmofdegeneration.Atthismoment,hedoesnothavesparetimetocareabouthiswriting.ThenhestartstofeardeathwhenhegotaninfectiononthetripofAfrica.Whenhethreatenedbythedeath,hebeginstoponderoverhislifeandjustrealizesthatsomanyoftimeandenergywasidledwithoutanysignificant.Hedreadsoftheroleofloserhepaysandintermsofhisheart,hefirmlydoesnotwanttowastethetalentthattheGodhasendowedwithhim.Inclosing,hebecomeslongforthenewlife.Withthestepsofdeathclose,hefinallyclearsuphisstatusandheisfilledwithregretsanddespairs.<qtd.LiXiaoli.2011>MethodologiesThemanifestationofbeyonddeathEnvironmentaldescriptionThecotthemanlayonwasinthewideshadeofamimosatreeandashelookedoutpasttheshadeontotheglareoftheplaintherewerethreeifthebigbirdssquattedobscenely,whileintheskyadozenmoresailed,makingquick-movingshadowsastheypassed.FromthispassagewecaninferthatHarrybeginstofeelsickbecauseofthegangreneinhisrightleg.Especially,thewordtheauthorused“glare”,“obscenely”,“shade”,thosewordsmeanthestepofdeathisjustaroundthecornerandHarryfacesdeathwiththeresistanceandhate.Helaythenandwasquietforawhileandlookedacrosstheheatshimmeroftheplaintotheedgeofthebush.TherewereafewTommiethatshowedminuteandwhiteagainstthegreenofthebush.Thiswasapleasantcampunderbigtreesagainstahill,withgoodwater,andcloseby,drywaterholewhereandgrouseflightinthemorning.WecanseethatHarry'sheartbecomescalmtowarddeathbythepassage.Throughtheauthor'sbrisktoneandthescenerytheauthorpresentation,Harryisconfrontedwithdeathwithouttoomuchfearinsteadofapeaceofmind.Afterlongtimetheillness'storment,hemaybethoughtsthatdeathisagoodwaytogetridofhurtandstepintoanewlife.Dialoguedescription“It'sabore,”hesaidoutloud.“Whatis,mydear?”“Anythingyoudotoobloodylong.”Itisverysurethateveryonefearanddreaddeath,especiallyforthehealthypeople.Forexample,ifayoungonegetsacold,hewilltakemedicineimmediatelybeforethediseasegotoworse.However,ifanoldmanwhohasgotseriousdiseasesforalongtime,hemightthinksthatmyillnesscannotbecuredandtherearesomanytormentsarelefttobearintheresttime.JustlikeHarrythoughts,diseaseisaboreandhedoesnotwanttosanditanymore.Andthen,inthissituation,deathisabestmedicinetoreleasetheirmindandbody.Atthistime,people'sideologicalconsciousnessofdeathhasreachalevel,deathisnomoreaobjecttofearandinturnitisarevolutiontoapply.PsychologicaldescriptionHarry'slifehaschangedcompletelyafterathornhadscratchedhiskneeastheymovedforwardtryingtophotographaherdofwaterbuckstanding.Beforethathappened,hehaslittertimetorecallhislife.Forheisavigorousman,heiseagerforoutsideworldfromwhichhecangainalotofmaterialstofillinhisstories.Sohespendsagreatdealoftimetotravel.Untilgotgangrene,hehastoliedowntohavearestandatthattimehehasenoughtimetoponderoverhislife.Whenhewasyoung,hewasaddictedtogambleandhehadwhoredthewholetime,whenthosewereover,andhehadfailedtokillhisloneliness,butonlymadeitworse.Inhisheart,helovedthefirstgirlandwhenhemissedherverymuch,hewouldwritetoheraletterwhichtellingherhowhehadneverbeenabletokillloneliness...HowwhenhethoughthesawheroutsidetheRegenceonetimeitmadehimgoallfaintandsickinside,andthathewouldfollowawomanwholookedlikeherinsomeway,alongtheBoulevard,afraidtoseeitwasnotshe,afraidtolosethefeelingitgavehim.Howeveryonehehadsleptwithhadonlymadehimmisshermore.Howwhatshehaddowncouldnevermattersinceheknewhecouldnotcurehimselfoflovingher.Harryofcoursehadseensomanyofbeautifulladies,whogavehimafeelofover-ripe.Theylookedbutsmooth,rose-petal,syrupy,smooth-bellied,andbig-breastedandneedednopillowundertheirbuttocks.Thosedegenerationsmakehimmorelonelinessandhelpless.Believethateverytimethemistakehemade,hisheartalwaysfallenintothedeepself-accusationandconfession.Asthebiblesaying,“Vanityofvanities,allisvanity.”Harrycouldgetwhathewantedfromthoserichwomen,whateverthesubstantialmaterialorthedesirethateverymanlongsfor,since,ontheonehand,hepossessesthenoblequalityoftheupperclassesandprofoundculturalbackground,franklyspeaking,whichisalsocalledprestige.Ontheotherhand,heknowswomanverywellandhecanchaseandcontrolthemwiselybyusinglie.Aftertogetherwithalotofwomen,heconcludedthatawomancouldnotknowthatyoumeannothingthatyousaid,maybewhatyouspokeonlyfromhabitortobecomfortable.Afterhenolongermeantwhathesaid,hisliesweremoresuccessfulwithwomenthanwhenhahadtoldthemthetruth.Hecouldobtainwhatpeoplepursueforeasily,suchasmoney,charmingloversandthelifeoftheupperclasses.Hehaddestroyedhistalentbynotusingit,bybetrayalsofhimandwhathebelievedin,bydrinkingsomuchthathebluntedtheedgeofhisperceptions,bylaziness,bysloth,andbysnobbery,byprideandbyprejudice,byhookandbycrook.Itwasatalentallrightbutinsteadofusingit,hehadtradedonit.Ofcourse,hewantedchangeit,but,hehadlosthimselftoolongandsodeep.So,hedidnothaveenoughpowertodefeatit.Facedwithaworldwhichhecouldnotchangeandtolerate,hewouldratherbreakawayfromthisrealityworldandgotoatotallynewworldinwhichhepossiblehaschancetoretainhisconfidenceandwhathebelievedin.ImpliedmeaningofimagesThere,ahead,allhecouldsee,aswideasalltheworld,great,high,andunbelievablywhileinthesun,wasthesquaretopofKilimanjaro.Andthenheknewthattherewaswherehewasgoing.Kilimanjaroisasnow-coveredmountain19,710feethigh,andissaidtobethehighestmountaininAfrica.ItswesternsummitiscalledtheHouseofGod.Closetothewesternsummitthereisthedriedandfrozencarcassofaleopard.Noonehasexplainedwhattheleopardwasseekingatthataltitude.First,letustalkaboutthedeadleopardonthetopoftheKilimanjaro.Leopardisakindofanimalthatliveontheprairiewhereitcancatchitsprey.WhytheleopardleavesthecarefreelifeontheprairieandchoosestoscramblehardlythehighestmountaininAfrica?ThequestionwasleftbyHarry'suncle,hewasamanbefondofhunting.Inhiseyes,onlyontheprairieman'snaturalinstinctsshowthoroughlyorthiskindofpassionwillbeshrink.ThatisoneofreasonwhyHarrylooksforwardtothelifeontheprairie.Whenhisuncledead,hedoesnotleavealotofmoneyforhimjustasusualpeopledid,unexpectedly,heonlygiveshimariddlewhichcannotunfoldeasily.Surely,thisriddlehasconfusedhimtoolongtimeuntilabarownergavearelativelyreasonableexplanation,thatis,theleopard'sscentisnotverywellanditalwaysfollowsthemistakesmelltogouptothetopoftheKilimanjaro.Thatisalsomean,theleopardgetslostatthebeginningwhenittakesthefirststep.AsfarasIknow,thefateofleopardindicatesthefateofHarrybecauseofthebothofthemoneveryaspecthaveincommon.First,bothofthemenjoythecarefreelifeontheprairie.Forleopard,theprairieisagoodstagetoshowitsspeedandadvantages.ForHarry,theprairieisthelastpieceofpurelandwherehecanlaydownalltheliesanduneasyandjustdothereallyone.Thereisnoneedmasktocoverhishypocrisyanymoreandhecanfreelydowhathewantstodo.Itmustbethemostrelaxtimeinhislife,sinceasthewordssayingthemostexhaustinginlifeisbeinginsincere.Second,onpursuingdreamroad,theyalllostthemselves.TheleopardfollowsthewrongsmelltogouptothetopofKilimanjaro,andfinally,whichleadstodeath.Thereissomethingwrongwiththeleopard'sscent,andastheresult,itgoestothewrongwayandmustbepaythepriceforitswrongchoose.HarryshouldhaveadecentandcomfortablelifebyusingthetalentGodhasendowedwithhim.However,hewouldratherliveadegenerationlife.Obviously,Harryalsolosthimselfinthiscomplexsociety.Althoughhehasanaffluentmateriallife,hisspiritworldisextremelydeficiency.Third,theyallyearnforthesatisfactionofspirit.But,thecurrentworldcannotcontentthiskindofneeds,so,theydaretobeyonddeathtogainanewandspirit-levellife.Second,themountainofKilimanjaroisthemarkofsacredandinviolable.AtsohighsummitofKilimanjaro,thereisnolifeexistenceatall.So,tosomeextent,theeagerforthemountainofKilimanjaroismeantheeagerforholy,andinanotherwords,yearnforthedeath.FindingHowtheauthorreachthelevelofbeyonddeathThehardexperienceoftheauthorinthepastHebecamefrustratedwhenheindulgedinyoungwomen.Atfirst,heshouldhavegotinnerheartreliefandsatisfactionandtomakeupwithspiritualemptinessanddepression.However,onthecontrary,hisneedsnotonlydidnotgetsatisfiedasheexpected,butalso,further,makethethingsturnintoworse.Andthemostimportantisthathegaveuphisdreamandbetrayedwhathebelievedin.Sincethenhislifejustlikethegrassontheriverwithoutanyaimandgoal.Withoutaiminthelifewhichmeanswithouttheexistence'svalue.Whatapitythingitis!Inhislife,