《熊》及《老人与海》之主题比较

Return and Transcendence

威廉·福克纳的短篇小说之一《熊》与厄内斯特·海明威的《老人与海》有诸多相似之处 :它们讲述的是同一题材的故事 ,两位主人公都远离荒诞的 ,被现代文明污染的现实社会 ,而在单纯宁静的大自然中寻找自己的归宿和价值。但两者在主题的深化方面是有区别的 :《熊》表明的是主人公渴望回归自然 ,回到“昔日的荣耀”和“传统的美德”中去。而《老人与海》体现的是主人公如何能超越衰老、病痛等自身的局限 ,永远保持坚强、勇敢、意志力等男子汉气概的一种精神。

The Bear is one of the best short novels written by William Faulkner, a famous American southern writer. Similarly, The Old Man and the Sea is also the best one of Ernest Hemingway's. There are many similarities between them, as they tell of the same subject, and the both protagonists, away from the absurd reality which has been contaminated by modern civilization, are questing for their home and value in the simple and serene nature. Nevertheless, there are differences if we further probe into the themes. The Bear expresses an idea that the protagonist yearns for returning to nature, the symbol of 'the past glory' and 'the traditional virtue.' While The Old Man and The Sea presents how a man can transcend such limitations as age, diseases and keep a firm, brave, perseverant spirit.