Life Existence In The Shadow Of Death

"Death" as an indispensable ring in the life chain, is always a permanent theme andmotif of human beings. Man on the one hand pursue after life persistently and on the otherhave to accept death, because "death is the terminal and the ultimate place for spiritualactivities". Therefore, "people who ponder over existence and people who ponder over manhave to contemplate death." Literary artists, the most sensitive of human beings think a lotof the issue of death more than anything else. And furthermore, they try to seek a better wayto survive by means of discussing about the issue of death.One of the greatest novelists in the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway, "a person whowalks on the river bank of death" (Bake), has a special affection for death. He is not only atough guy of vigorous life consciousness but also an exploiter of death awareness. Hemoulds his life experiences into words stating that life is living, yet approaching death,however, the individual who is in pursuit of life's original meaning can surely face the deathand respond to it in a dignified way. He finds writing a channel to call away grief andsadness and a cure to his spiritual injuries in his frustrated and desperate life. His suicide in1961 makes his life more tragic.This thesis aims to interpret Hemingway and the existence state of the characterschased after by death in his works, in order to probe into the meaning of life. Therelationship between life and death is vividly presented in Hemingway's works. And in themeantime, if we take Hemingway's interpretation of death to think over modern people'slives, conclusion can be drawn that with his life and blood, Hemingway pioneers abrand-new life road for human beings. Inspired by his death education, modern peopleshould prize the death quality of life, which is also the essence of realization of life value.Except for introduction and conclusion, this thesis falls into three parts.Chapter One analyzes Hemingway's unusual feelings and viewpoints as a livingindividual after he miraculously encounters and avoids death, in connection with theperspective of life and death in the philosophical history.Chapter Two interprets the characters chased after by death in Hemingway's literaryworld and analyzes his death perspective so as to master his literary death philosophy.Because writing is the cure to Hemingway's fear of death, we can find in his charactersthread of death. Firstly, the initial contact with death: death sows the seed of fear. Secondly,in further contact with death: the fear of death follows like shadows. Thirdly, in closecontact with death: toughness and bravery is foregrounded. Lastly, the living characterschased after by death cast the fear away and face death directly, which shows the noblebeauty of death tragedy. Men when facing death is doomed to be a tragedy, but they canalso become a graceful actor under pressure.The Third Chapter states the issue of suicide mentioned oftentimes by Hemingway inhis suffering of life and death. Hemingway's suicide in reality is talked about firstly. Thenthe common occurances of suicide in the literary works are interpreted. Suicide as a kind ofspecial death is a voluntary behavior. As is known to all, Hemingway is a sensitive writerwith strong life consciousness and death awareness. Imbedded in his subconsciousness isawareness of death when living and suicide to him is a comfort. Hemingway chooses to endhis life in this way just because he recognizes that beyond life is value worth cherishingmore.In a word, Hemingway's death philosophy can be an implication for modern people andhas a positive educational significance. Human beings can not conquer or avoid death, butas long as one lives, he has to fight with the death tragedy that can not be defeated. Inaddition, we should view and appreciate death using an aesthetic life attitude. Only bydoing so can we attain the greatest life value. Hemingway's life consciousness creates newlife impulses for human beings and constructs a new life value, which infuses the greatestpower and will to life. Just because death is the destiny of life, we could find in life colorand significance.