The Thesis of A Journey in EnglishLiteratureNAME：NO.：COLLEGE：Software Engineering College LITERATURE：The Old Man and the SeaDifferent Thoughts aboutthe Image of the Code Hero-- The Old Man and the Sea【Abstract】The thesis analyzes Hemingway's code hero image in this famous novel from different perspectives. As we all know, every excellent work expresses lots of significances, which only one-eights can be seen directly. So we can have a new look at the code hero in Hemingway’s novel. The thesis focuses on people’s different views about the process and the result. Which of them is more important? Perhaps we can get a new answer.【Key Words】Hemingway the code hero result process SantiagoIntroductionErnest Hemingway is one of the greatest writers in the 20th century and The Old Man and the Sea is his representative work. It has helped restore Hemingway’s lite rary image and won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. In the novel, the protagonist Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, had not caught any fish for 84 days. So he had to set out to the sea again and went very far. This time he came across a great marlin. He struggled with it hardly and eventually killed it. However, the atrocious sharks came to eat the marlin. To defend his marlin and his pride, proving him an undefeated old fisherman, he fought against the sharks desperately. Finally, the sharks ate up the marlin and only the backbone was left. Santiago returned home, but he had his pride still. The old man was really a hero. But if we can reconsider it, perhaps we can get something different.Reconsider the novelThere are quantities of different significances in every excellent novel. There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. In the novel that won him the Nobel Prize, Hemingway had described only a few images – a boat, a sea, an old man and so on. But only a thousands words left endless thoughts to us, on battles, on success, on death and on life, which are various from people to people. Thought majority of the readers think that the code hero in the novel is perfect. But as far as I’m considered, every coin has two sides. If we can have a fresh look on it, then we may get a different idea.Processes or resultsReading the story, I have being thinking about the success. What is success? And what is failure? There are many various issues on the problem. A man is climbing a mountain. One way for him is to keep all his mind on the trip, regardless of everything. In this way, he can reach the top of the mountain. Another way is to stop to enjoy the pretty sceneries but then he may not get to the top. Which is better? Perhaps every onehas his own idea.Which holds more significance, the process or the result?Through the novel The Old Man and the Sea we can see many things besides the bravery of the old man and the cruelty of the sharks. From Hemingway’s life and his remark “Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”①(朱坤领,2008) in the novel, it seems that he thought more about the process. In quantities of his works, there are Hemingway’s code heroes. And his own life was like the images he built, too. He went exploring in the African jungles and fishing on the Cuban sea in his early youth. Then during World War I, he served as an ambulance driver in Italy; during World War II, he first served in the US navy and then worked as a reporter with the British Air Force. He was wounded many times but not defeated. He was brave and he had his pride. What was more, he had written some essays having a profound influence on people later in his life. He had reached the top of life. In the process of his life, he was never defeated. He succeeded. However, finally he chose a gun to shoot himself at the end of his life. What made a brave man like this? Some people think that he was afraid of being defeated by diseases. Others hold the view that he killed himself because he couldn’t go on writing in such bad health so he thought life meaningless. But no matter what was the truth, the result left thousand upon thousand people nothing but sorrow and pity.There is an ancient Chinese saying, being a hero does not depend on success. Hemingway is a hero and Santiago is also a hero. Their bravery, their pride and their belief can be noticed in every point and in every process. For them, the result just means the end. After their struggle and the endless dark, it is not so important.However, in the realistic society, more people are not so romantic like the writer and the old man may lives only in the story. Nothing is more important than success. Who won the competition has upper status. People are looking forward to a good result while doing everything, and the result is their motivation.Thoughts on the code heroLiving in such a society, we have to seek for a good result as well. So let’s look at Hemingway’code hero from a new perspective. Perhaps we can say that it is the code hero that had built Hemingway’s character, but also destroyed Hemingway. The character of the code hero is perfect, and it is a kind of idealistic goal to some extent. But between the ideal and the reality there is always a certain distance. To give up life easily in order to pursue the perfection is a disregard of life. The pursuit is not wrong, but we must treat the failure peacefully. Life is beautiful. Ending life because of the fear of defeat is not wise.William Faulkner, after learning Hemingway’s committed suicide, said to his friends, Hemingway have protested too much; he was obviously suffering from diseases, but to do so is not brave to some extent; I do not like a man who cut a corner to return home.②(李文俊,1992)Life is the most treasured in the world. It is worthy of respect. If someone kills himself only for the code hero character, then the character will have less meaning of existence. Suicide is a behavior that means ignorance of life. And if someone dies, it will be certain to bring sorrow to others.Hemingway's suicide not only brought harm to his family but also made the whole United States fall into grief. They felt as if their own lives were destroyed. So we can see that ending life is not one’s own business. It is also about the interests and feelings of those around them.Hemingway's death made all the Americans sad. His image was like a towering tree in the minds of American people. On the second day, Robert Frost, the great poet said, he was tough and did n’t begrudge life; he was tough and didn’t stint himself; luckily he gave us enough time to show us his greatness.③(李鹏,2005)Hemingway's code hero character did inspire a whole generation in America. In this country, even the president’s death can not make the whole nation grief-stricken, but Hemingway's passing away allowed no matter the upper or the lower class throughout the United States in mourning. What was the reason? It just lied in his unique work, the spirit of his code hero! So, his passing away affected thousands of people. Perhaps his actions was some kind of irresponsible.ConclusionAll in all, people have different views on the code hero. It is due to the fact that various people have various values. They have different ideas on the process and the result. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the code hero character dialectically to some degree. The code hero usually sticks to fighting against the vicious power of the world, with amazing perseverance and exuberant energy. No matter how serious the situation is, no matter how many difficulties there are, they never lose their courage, never change their determination and never give up their glory. They always show us their qualities -- optimism, spirit of hard struggle, being full of confidence and hope and so on. These are the most glamorous and nothing can touch people more than these qualities.However, in any case, suicide is not supposed to be promoted. It is actually an escape from the harsh environment. The escape is the most questionable attitude towards life. Life, is given to each person only once. So, whatever we came across, we should not destroy ourselves easily. As the saying goes, if you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. And a real tough guy should have a character of toughness, not just only have rigid character.【References】①朱坤领(2008). A Journey in English Literature (Ed.), 重庆大学出版社②李文俊(1992). 非是"思君若汶水",未曾"三夜频梦君"——海明威与福克纳眼中的对方（《读书》1992年10期）, 生活.读书.新知三联书店③李鹏(2005). 一生应结识的25个人, 北京工业大学出版社。