老人与海的悲剧色彩对完美主义的质疑

　　Abstract
　　Throughages，humanbeingshavealwaysbeeninpursuitoftheperfectionofeverything。Notallthings，however，areperfectintheworld。BothHemingwayandSantiago，theheroinhisfamousworkTheOldManandtheSeaareperfectionists。Intheirdailylives，perfectionistshaveendlesssadnesssincetheyalwaysdemandmoreandmore。Whenapersonwantsmoreandhispresentsituationcouldnotsatisfyhim，heisboundtoinvolveinastrangecircle，whichwillmakehismentalityfullofcontradictories。Itisuneasyforhimtolethimselffree。Perfectionistscouldnotbeeasilyunderstoodbyothers。ThoughananalysisofthetragedyoftheoldmanandHemingway，thisthesismainlydiscussesthetragiccolorinTheOldManandtheSea，anddrawsaconclusionthattheirperfectionismleadstotheirtragedy。Inthatway，thepaperchallengesperfectionism。Justlikeanoldsayinggoes：Nooneisperfect。Thereisnoabsoluteperfectionismintheworld。Infact，pursuingperfectionisagoodmedicineforthosewhoarevacuoustoremedy，butonthepremisethattheyknowtheirpotentialwellinpursuitofperfection。Ifapersondoesnotknowhispotentialofperfectionandoverpursuesit，notonlydoeshelivewithouthappiness，buthegetsnothingintheendaswell。Theworldisimperfect。Therefore，itisessentialtoaccepttheimperfectionoftheworldandlearntoabnegatesomeunrealisticpursuits。Thisthesistriestoelucidatethetruththatpeoplewhooverpursueperfectioncannotbuthurtthemselvesintheend。
　　KeyWords
　　tragiccolor；perfection；perfectionism；Hemingway；Santiago
　　摘要
　　千古以来，人们历来追求事事的完美，然而，事事皆不完美，即使是人们心目中最完美的东西也有它的破绽。就像是海明威和他的名著《老人与海》里的铁汉英雄圣地亚哥一样，他们两人都是人们心目中的完美主义者。然而在日常的生活中，完美主义者总是有着无穷无尽的悲哀，因为他们一生的追求会随着自己目标的达成变得越来越多。若是一个追求完美的人为自己定了很高的目标而没有实现时，他们就很容易陷入一种精神的怪圈，这样的怪圈使得他们的内心总是充满矛盾，在不断的挣扎中，他们难以脱身。
　　本论文从研究《老人与海》的悲剧色彩入手，分析老人的悲剧，指出他的悲剧是由他的完美主义思想所致，同时也说明海明威的悲剧，海明威对自己的要求太高了，他不断追求心中达到完美的目标，甚至有些目标已经超过了他的能力范围。然而，他的事事追求完美的思想使得他承受不了生活的压力，病痛的折磨，最终，他以自杀结束了他本是辉煌灿烂的人生。接着论文则对世人觉得理所当然的追求完美主义的思想提出质疑。正如金无赤金，人无完人所阐述的道理，世间没有绝对的完美。实际上追求完美是弥补心灵空虚人的一剂良药，但前提是在人们真正了解自己的潜能。一个人若是连自己都不了解，不知道自己真正所需，就过度追求生命中事事的完美，那他的一生必定没有幸福，而且到头来也不会得到他所追求的完美。整理我们的思绪，放弃不切实际的想法，做我们自己而不在意别人的想法，这才是我们每个人应该做的。世界从来就不完美，学会放弃才是人生的宽途。
　　本论文分析老人和海明威的悲剧以及对造成他们悲剧的原因追求完美主义，进行分析，试图说明过分追求完美必然导致对自己的伤害。
　　关键词
　　悲剧色彩；完美；完美主义；海明威；圣地亚哥
　　Introduction
　　Hemingway’slifeisfilledwithkindsofadventures，andfromhisrichandcolorfullifeexperiences，hislifeseemslikeanunusualbookwhichmanyotherpeopleintheworldadmireandenvy。Indeed，Hemingwayisagreatwriter，acodemanwithwhitebeard；eventodayhehadleftusforafewdecades，hisbravefigurehasstillbeenlivinginpeople’smemory。Hisadventuristspiritmadehimcreatemanynovels，sothatpeoplealwayssayhedirectshisownstoriesinhisworks。Fromhisworksandlifeexperiences，Hemingwayisindeedaperfectionist。Manyoftheheroesthathecreatedinnovelsarerepresentedhiscodemanspiritperfectionism，especiallyinTheOldManandtheSea。TheoldmannamedSantiagorepresentedHemingway’sperfectionismcharacteristicmorevividlythanothercodemaninhisworks。Hemingwayleftmanymythstotheliteraryworldafterhisshockingdeath，moreandmoreresearchersdiscussedhisworks；alotofdiscussionsaretalkedabouthiswritingstyle，lifeexperiencesandhisowncodemanspirit。Hemingway’snamehadbeenstayinginliteraryworldforeverbecauseofthewholeworld’sattention。
　　PerfectionismisadoubleedgedbladewhichbringsbothhonorandsadnesstoHemingway。Hechosetodieintheprimeofhislife。Hemingwayleftmanyunsolvedquestionstothewholeworld，peopleregretforhischoice。Meanwhile，wecouldfindarealHemingwaywhenwestandinhisshoes，heisacompleteperfectionist。Hewouldpreferregrettingforthewholeworldtoregrettingforhimself，that’saperfectionist’schoice。
　　EventhoughHemingwaychoseanotherwaytoexpresshisherospiritandhisperfectionism，somepeoplesuspectwhathisperfectionismbroughttohim。Perfectionismbroughthonor，wealth，wonderfullifetohim，buthedecidedtodiscardallhonorbecausehehadbeentorturedbysicknessgreatly，hechosetodieintheend。Hemingwaywasinvolvedinstrangeperfectionismcircle。Atthesametime，thecodemanspiritmadehimpursuitperfectionofeverything。Asaperfectmaninpeople’seyesisHemingway’saim。TheoldmanwhoHemingwaycreatedinTheOldManandtheSeaisalsoapersonrepresentedHemingway’sperfectionismspirit。Hehashisownsadness。
　　ThepaperfocusesonTheOldManandtheSea，findoutthetragiccolorinthenovel，meanwhile，explainsHemingway’stragedyinordertochallengetheperfectionismwhichisheldbytheauthorHemingwayandhiscreativecodeheroSantiago。
　　IBackground
　　ATotheAuthor：EarnestHemingway
　　EarnestMillerHemingwaywasborninawelltodofamilyinOakPark，IllinoisnearChicago，onJuly21st，1899。HewasanAmericanNobelPrizewinnerinliterature（1954），aspokesmanforTheLostGeneration。AfterhegottheNobelPrize，heendedhislifebyhimself。Hislifewasfilledwithmanykindsofadventuresthatrepresentinhisworks。Hestyledtheparticulartypeofthetragicheroinhisnovels，andhislifeattitudehadbeenwidelyrecognizedandimitatedinEnglishspeakingcountriesandallovertheworldaswell。HemingwaywasamythinhisowntimeandinAmericanliterature。
　　B。TheMediumLengthNovel
　　1。Summary
　　AmongallofHemingway’sworks，TheOldManandtheSea，itisaworkthatleadstothetopofHemingway’scareerofwriterandmadehimreceipttheNobelPrize。ItisapoetictragicnovelaboutSantiagoanoldCubanfishermanwhohasgonefor84dayswithoutcatchinganything。Therefore，theboy，Mandolin，whousedtosailwithhim，isforcedbyhisparentstoleavetheoldmanandcatchinanothergoodluckyship。Theoldmaninsistsonfishingaloneandatlast，hehooksaneighteenfoot，giantmarlin，thelargesthehaseverknown。Butthetitanicfishisverypowerfulanddisobedient。Ittowstheoldmanandhisboatouttoseafor48hours，withtheoldmanbearingthewholeweightofthefishthroughthelineonhisback。Theoldman，withlittlefoodandsleep，hastoenduremuchpainandfightsagainsthistreacheroushandcramp。Tohisgreatexcitement，onhisthirddayatsea，hesucceedsincatchingtheweakenedmarlintothesurfaceandharpoonsit。Onhiswayhome，helashedmarlinalongsidehisboatbecauseitistoobigtobepulledintotheboat。But，unfortunately，thesharksindifferentdirectionsassaultedtheoldmanandthegiantmarlinforfourtimes。Theoldmanfightstokillthesharkswithasmuchmightandmanyweaponsashecansummon，butonlytofindagiantskeletonofhismarlinleftafterhisdesperatedefense。Atlast，Santiago，havinglostwhathefoughtfor，reachestheshoreandstrugglestohisshack。Hefallsintosoundsleep，dreamingofAfricaandthelionsagain。Hisstrugglewinshimmuchrespect；meanwhile，hestillmadehimselfindulgeintheatmosphereoftragiccolor，nooneunderstandshissadnessexcepthimself。
　　2。TheSocialBackgroundofThisWork
　　Literatureisthereflectionofsociety。Therefore，inordertoprovethisnovel’stragiccolor，thesocialbackgroundisoneofthenecessaryfactorsforustoappreciatethiswork。
　　HemingwaylivedintheperiodthattheWorldWarOnebrokeout；manyyoungvolunteerstookpartinthewarwhichalsocalledawarendallwars。Buttheharshrealitymadethemawarethatmodernwarfarewasnotasgloriousorheroicastheythought。AsayoungwriterandspokesmanoftheTheLostGeneration，andinfluencedbythefrivolous，greedyandheedlesswayoflifeinAmerica。Hemingway’sworksallvividlyrecordedthelifeofthosephysicallyandmentallywoundedsoldiers，revealedthefrustration，lonelinesswhenGodisdead。Thatperiodamp；rsquo；stragedymadeHemingway’sworksfullwithtragiccolor，suchasAFarewelltoArms，DeathintheAfternoon，TheSunAlsoRiseandTheOldManandtheSea。Themenace，theanguishdereliction，thefutilityandsterilityexpressedintheseworkshadbeenafflictingallsensitivemembersofthepostwargeneration。
　　TheothercircumstancesthatmadeHemingwaywrotethenovelwasHemingway’swritingcapabilityhadbeenquestionedbypeopleatthattime。Underkindsofgossip，HemingwaydecidedtowriteTheOldManandtheSeawhichhadbeenconstructedinhismindformorethan10years。Atlast，thismasterpieceprovedhiswritingtalent。
　　IITheTragicColorinTheOldManandtheSea
　　A。DefinitionoftheTragicColor
　　IntheancientGreek，tragedyisdefinedasSocratesdiedfrompoison；Jesuswashungonthecross。Intheeyesofwesterners，tragedyisthehighestartinaesthetics。Someartistseventhoughtrealartonlycomesfromtragedy。Alargenumberofwritersandartistsfocustheireyesontragedy，sothattheyarewillingtocreatetheirworkswithtragedies。
　　Therearesomanyexplanationsforthewordtragedy。ThedefinitionoftragedyintheDictionaryofLiteratureTheoryis：tragedyisastorywithcontradictoryconflictionendedupwiththegoodperson’sunfortunatefate。Aristotle，whoisoneofthegreatestteachersinancienteducationalhistory，haseverdefinedtragedythus：tragedy，then，isandimitationofanactionthatisserious，complete，andofacertainmagnitude。（王佐良，2004，29）ChinesefamousliterarywriterLuXundefinedthewordtragedythat：tragedydestroysthemostvaluablethingsinpeople’slifeinfrontofhumanbeings。Generallyspeaking，tragedyonlyreferstogoodpersons’unfortunatefate。Intheeyesofthisthesis’author，accordingtothisHemingway’snovelTheOldManandthesea，whichisatypicallyworksthatcomplywithChinesetragicrecognitiondestroytheoldman’seffortsinfrontofpeople。Thatisthecrueltyoftragedy。Inthismediumlengthnovel，tragedyrepresentedinmanyrespects，suchastheoldmantorturedbyloneliness，sicknessandsoon，eventhetitanicfishhasitstragedy。
　　B。TragicColorRepresentedintheNovel
　　Tragiccolorinthisnovelismainlyrepresentedintwoquarters，thefirstrespectisthetitanicfish’sinborntragedy；thesecondpartistheoldman’stragedy。
　　1。TitanicFish’sTragedy
　　Thefirsttragedyisexistedinthegiantmarlin’stragedy。Fishisborntobedefeated，it’sanimmutablefact。
　　Itwasdefeatedbytheoldman，andthenitwasdestroyedcompletelybyfourfiercesharks’continuallyattack。Afishisborntobedefeated，itsfateisboundtobedefeatedandsharedbyhumanbeingsorotherstrongeranimals。That’safish’stragedy。It’saninbornloser。
　　2。TheOldMan’sTragedy
　　Thetitanicfish’stragedyisoneoftragediesinthenovel，buttheoldman’stragedyisthemaintragedyinit。
　　Fromtheverybeginningofthisnovel，Hemingwaydepictedthesadtonethatapoorandlonelymanwithshabbyboat，deepseaasbackgroundisalsosymbolizesakindofsadtone，thesesadtoneslastattheendofthisnovel。
　　Theoldman’swifehasbeendeadformanyyears，withoutleavinganydescendants，hemisseshiswifeverymuch，inordertonotmisshiswife，heputsoffallofhiswife’scolorphotos，becausehefeelssolonelyonceheseesthosephotos。
　　Theoldman’stragedyisalsorepresentedinnoonecareabouthimexcepthisgoodfriend，alittleboynamedMandolin。However，thelittleboycouldnotalwaysstaywithhimandtakecareofhim。Duringthedaystheoldmansailsintodeepseawithhisoutsizeddream，noonecompanywiththeoldman，hefeelssolonely。Hemisseshisbelovedwifeandhisgoodfriendthelittleboy，hewantsthelittleboytohelphimandspeaktohim，buthecanonlyspeaktohimself，thegiantmarlin，littletiredbirdandthedeepbluesea。Duringthosedays，withlittlefoodandsleep，heenduresmuchpainandfightsagainsthistreacheroushandcramp，noonehelpshim，theoldmansaystohimselfagainandagain：that’sgreatifthelittleboyishere。
　　Theresultofhissailingisalsooneoftragediesinthenovel。Afterhehascaughtthegiantmarlin，andreturnstoshore，heonlytakesabigfishskeleton，peoplerespecthiscapabilitybuthedissatisfieswiththeresultandhestillfeelsfrustrated。Heexpresseshislonelinesstothelittleboy。Therearenomorewordsforhim，thefatigueandhistorturedheartmadehimfeelssotired，hesleepsdeeplyinhisshabbyboat。Hedreamsofagroupoflionswhichsymbolizessuccess，butthissailingisnotthoughtasasuccessfulonebyhimself。
　　Allofoldman’stragediescomefromhimselfatheart。Thereisacontradictionexistedinhismind。Hiswholelifedependsontheseaandofcoursehehasbecomeanoldexperiencedfishermanforhehasbeenlivingintheseaformanyyears。Butatthistimehecatchesnothingfor84days。Otherpeopleorfishermanstartstosuspecthisabilityandjokeabouthisdecreasedcapabilitiesoffishing。Gossipsmadetheoldmandeterminetosailintothedeepsea，whichleadstohistragedy，becausesailingtothedeepseahassurpassedhiscapabilityinhisoldage。Hestillwantstobecomeasuccessfulfishermaninpeople’seyes；buthisoutsizeddream’sdestructionmadehimfeelssosad。Intheend，theoldmanbecomesmoresilent，heonlywantstosleepinordertorefreshhisbody，andheonlyexpresseshissadness，butnothisambitiontoconquertheseaanymore。Atthattime，hehasrealizedhisdreamcouldnotbefulfilledanymore。Eventhroughheknowshisabilitycouldnotrealizehisoutsizeddreamcompletely，thisdreamcouldnotvanishinhismind。Atthelastparagraphofthisnovel，wordsfromafemaletravelermadereadersgivemorepityontheoldman，thefemaletravelerpointsthetitanicskeletonandasksawaiterwhatitis。Notuntilthewaiterexplains，shethoughtitisashark’sskeletonandcriesoutIhasneversawsuchabeautifulshark’stail。Theoldman’sdreamcompletelyshattered，hisfruithasbeenmistakablyregardedasashark’sskeleton。Peoplearoundtheshoredon’tunderstandwhattheoldmanstrivesforinhisoldages。Nooneunderstandshissadnessbesideshimself。Ifhedoesn’twanttobecomeasuccessfulfishermaninhisoldage，hecouldenjoyhimselftilltheendofhislife。
　　Throughoutthenovel，alloftheoldman’stragediescomefromhisambition，hisoutsizeddream。Heistoooldtosailintothedeepseaandheshouldstayinpeacefulharbor；enjoyhimselfinhislittleboatalthoughlifemaybepoor，however，heneedn’tprovehisabilitytootherpeople。Inoneword，perfectionismleadstoSantiago’soutsizeddreamwhichcausedhistragedy。
　　IIIPerfectionism
　　A。Definition
　　Ifapersonwithacharacterwhoalwayscompareshimselforhisachievementswithperfectthings，thiskindofpersonisaperfectionist。OxfordAdvancedLearner’sEnglishChineseDictionaryexplainsperfectionistasthefollowingtwomeanings：one：personwhoisnotsatisfiedwithanythinglessthanperfection；two：personwhoinsistsonperfectionineverydetailevenwhenitisnotnecessary。FamouspsychologistBurnpointedout：perfectionistisapersonwhodeterminetogethigheraims，andcompelhimselftopursuittheiraimsexcessively。Intheprocessofpursuingthoseaims，theyareeasytohurtthemselves。
　　Oneofperfectionist’smainfeaturesistheireagernesstoprovetheirability。PsychologistKarenHarneyhasalreadygiventheseexplanationsforperfectionist’seagerness：themeaningofperfectionist’slifeisnotexistedinhishappinessandenjoyments，butfocusonhisaccomplishmentsabouthisownresponsibilitiesandcompulsory。Intermsoftheirmotivationoflife，theyarenotwillingtoacquirehappinessbutpursuerightandperfectthingsinalloftheirlife。
　　Theothermainfeatureofperfectionististheirselfcontradictorycharacteristic；manyperfectionistsstruggledintheirselfcontradictoryminds。Generallyspeaking，perfectionist’scharacterisalwaysstubborn，straitlaced，andinflexible。Theyalwaysplanahighstandardforthemselvesandtrytheirbesttoachieveit，iftheyfailed，theywillfeelsosadandhardtoaccepttheresult。Thiscouldexplainwhyperfectionistsareeasytoinvolveindepression，oncetheyfallintothesadness，theyalsocannotmakethemcatchupagain。
　　B。Santiago’sandHemingway’sPerfectionism
　　SantiagoandHemingwaybothbelongtothesamekindofpeoplewithacharacterwhichbeencalledperfectionism。Fromtheoldman’scharacteristicinTheOldManandtheSea，theauthorofthethesiscouldcatchaglimpseofHemingway。
　　1。Santiago’sPerfectionism
　　InthenovelTheOldManandtheSea，theoldman’seagernesstoprovehiscapabilityisthebestevidencewhichcouldprovetheoldman’sperfectionism。Hehasgonefor84dayswithoutcatchinganything。Hiscodeman’scharacterleadshimtoprovehecancatchgiantfish。HehaseversaidtoMandolinthatheisastrangemananddifferentfromotherfisherman。Inthestory，theoldmanalwayshopeshisoutsizeddreamcouldsatisfyhimselfandotherpeople。Hisoutsizeddreamisthatonedayhewillcatchgiantfishtoprovehisability。Inordertocatchgiantfish，hehastochoosetosailintothedeepsea，butthatisoutofhiscapability，intheendofthestoryevenhehasgotgiantfish，hisroughtoolsmadehisgiantfishcouldnotreturnsafelytohisshoreforthedeepseaisdangerousandfullwithobstacles。Theoldmanshouldconsidertheseobstaclesbeforesailingbutasaperfectionistheonlypaysmoreattentiontoprovehiscapability。Sohisachievementisdestroyedbysharksagainandagain，andonlyleavesthatgiantfish’sskeleton。Atlast，Santiagorecognizesheisstillaloser，hefeelssadbutnooneunderstandshim。Allofhissadnessandlonelinessiscausedbyhisperfectionism。
　　Meanwhile，Santiagoisaselfcontradictoryman，themiracleseaisdangerous，butheisamanlovesseaverymuch，heevenwillingtoregardseaasawoman，thinkingthatevenifshedosomethingimprudentornaughty，that’sbecauseshecan’tcontrolherself，that’snotherfault；theoldmanlovesthedeepsea，buttheseadestroyedhisoutsizeddreamindirectly；healsolovesanimalswhichliveinthedeepsea，thebirds，flyfishanddolphins，hethinkstheyareallhisfriendswhichcouldcompanywithhiminthelonelysea；Hefeelshappywhenhesawalltheseaanimalslivepeacefully，buthehastostrugglewiththegiantandbeautifulfish；althoughhefeelssadandregrettableforthegiantfish，hestilldeterminestokillit；hethinksmarlinisbeautifulandpine；however，heholdshisspearandstabsintoitsbody。
　　2。Hemingway’sPerfectionism
　　TheOldManandtheSeaisalwaysregardedasHemingway’sbiography。Hemingway’sownexperiencesmadehimbecomeaperfectionistbydegree。。
　　Hemingway’sperfectionist’slifewasgreatlyaffectedbyhisfamily。Hewasborninacontradictoryfamily。Hisfather，asuccessfulphysician，alsocommittedsuicide，enjoyedhuntingandfishing。Hismother，amusician，whowantedHemingwaycouldstayandstudymusicandartinfamily。Hemingway’sparentswantedhimbecomeaperfectionistfromhischildhoodeducation。Hemingwayhadadreamtobeastrongandversatilemanfromhislittleagebecauseofhisfamilybackground。Whenhewasalittleboy，hewentoutfrequentlywithhisfather，intheprocess，hedevelopedaseriesofconsiderationaboutlifeanddeath，andmeanwhilehelearnedsuchvirtuesascourageandendurance。Hehadawholehappychildhoodthoughhedidrunawayfromhometwice。Intheschool，hewasalsoanoutstandingstudent。Therefore，Hemingway’searlychildhoodexperienceandhisnaturaltempermadehimbecomesaperfectionistlittlebylittle。Afterleavingschool，hejoinedinthearmyasawarreporter，likeotheryoungpeoplelivedinthatperiod，hewasdisillusionedbythesenselessslaughteroftheFirstWorldWar。Inthewar，Hemingwaygotshortperiodpraisebecausehesavedasolider，duringthosedayshewasseemedasaherobypeople，eventhehonordisappearedsoon，hiscodemancharacteristiclasted。Hemingwaypaidallhislifetowrite，createandremainhiscodemanspirittomemorythehonorthathehadeverhad，thisrepresentedwhateverinhislifeorhisworks。Experiencedsomanyadventures，hislifewerefilledwithdepressionandphysicalsickness，aftergottheNobelPrizewhichHemingwayalwayspursuited，andunderwentshocktreatmentfordepression，Hemingwayendedhislifewithhislovedshotgunthathisfathereverusedtocommittedsuicide。
　　Hemingwaypursuitedperfectionisminallofhislife，hisperfectionismrepresentsnotonlyinhislife，butalsoinhisworks。Allofhisworksrefertowarandtension，allhislifefullwithadventureswhichrepresentedhisnotionofaperfectlife。Hemingwayalwayswantedtofinishhisherorolecompletely，whichisdefinedinotherpeople’seyesasaheroshouldbe。Becausehispursuitofeverything’sperfection，healwayshadhighexpectation，ifthethingsdidn’tprocessaccordingtohisplan，hewouldlosehismind。Theoldyear’ssicknessmadeHemingwaycouldnotrealizehisperfectdreamsanymore；hewastorturedbysicknessdaybydaywhichwascreatedbyearlywarexperiencesandkindsofadventures。
　　Hemingway’scontradictorymindisanotherexpressionofhisperfectionism。HehadeverjoinedtheCommunistParty，buthewasalsoamemberofCatholicChurch；hehadfourwivesbutheporcedfinally；peoplealwaysthoughthewasaplayboy，atleastamancouldnotconcentrateonlove，butheadmittedtothepublicthathelovedallhiswivesandsons；ThedaywhenFaulknerwontheNobelPrizein1949，Hemingwaywasquotedasthesesaying，nosonofbitchwhoeverwontheNobelPrizeeverwroteanythingworthreadingafterwards，butwhenhegotNobelPrizein1954，heacceptedthatprizehappily。
　　IfHemingwayisnotaperfectionist，hecouldlivehappilythananyoneelse。Nevertheless，everyonehastheirownlivingway，hechosetoliveinaperfectionismway。
　　3。Sumup
　　BothHemingwayandtheoldmanarerepresentationofperfectionism。Indeed，intheprocessofpursuitingperfection，theyhavegotthemostvaluablethingsinlife，becausetheirpursuingtheperfectthingsmadetheirlifefullofenergyandmotivation。However，lifeisnotalwaysperfect。Inourlife，pursuingperfectionisapprovedbutwemustrecognizethetruththatlifeisimperfect，nooneisperfect。Itistheruleofnature。Hemingwayandtheoldmanpursuittheirperfectoutsizeddreams，theresultsoftheirpursuitsarenotgood。TakeHemingwayandtheoldmanforexample，theresultsoftheirperfectionismareHemingwayfeltdepressiveforthewholeworldandchosecommittedsuicide；whiletheoldman，hispursuitdisappearedinseveralseconds，hefeelssadbecauseherealizesheisstillaloser。
　　C。DealingwithPerfectionism
　　Themostimportantwaytodealwithperfectionismistorealizethenotionthattheworldisfarfrombeingperfect，likeanoldsayinggoes，nooneisperfect，theabsoluteperfectionisneverexistedintheworld。Undertheconditionthatweknowwecouldnotgettwoperfectthingsatthesametime，inordertogetsomethingmoreimportant，learntogiveupsomethingwillhelpuspasssomedifficulties。
　　IftheoldmanSantiagorealizedhisoutsizeddreamisunreasonable，heshouldnotbesad。Heshouldabnegatehisoutsizeddream；enjoyhimselfonlybyfreshfish，althoughlifemaybepoor，nofood，andnomilk。HecanstilllivehappilywithMandolin’scompany。
　　TheprototypeoftheoldmaninthenovelTheOldManandtheSeaisaCubanfishermanwhohadeversavedHemingwaywhoisindangerandatlasthebecameoneofHemingway’sgoodfriends。AfterHemingway’scommittedsuicide，ahottopichadbeendiscussedontheInternet，peoplestarttodoubtwhyapoorfishermanlivedhappilyuntilhis101yearsold，whileHemingwayendedhislifebyshotgunafterhegotthehonorofNobelPrize。Infact，thereasonthatleadsHemingway’sdeathishisperfectionism。Therearetwowaystodealwithperfectionism。
　　1。ComprehensionoftheWorld’sImperfection
　　Peoplelivinginmoderntimesbearmorepressurethantheirforebears，onthegroundsofthefastpaceofthesociety。Especiallythosewithhighercredentialsthanothers，theyalwaysexpresstheirideasthatsomedaytheycouldbecomeperfectandgetadmirationfromothers。Buttheyalwaysblindlychasehightargetswithoutconsideringtheirownpotentials。Itisnotaneasythingtobeperfect。Comprehensionoftheworld’sImperfectionisonewaytosolvethisproblem。
　　Sometruestoriestellusthatweshouldrealizetheimperfectionintheworld。Therewasamanagerofafamousfranchiseautomanufactorycompanywhowasatypicallyperfectionist。Heisasuccessfulmanagerinmanypeople’seyes，buthedissatisfiedwithhissuccessoncehethoughthiscompanyisfarbehindhishighaims，althoughinfacthisfranchisecompanyoperatedverywellevensurpassmanyhighlevelautomanufactorycompanies。Themanagercouldnotbearpressure，atlast，hechosedeathlikeanyotherperfectionistsdid。
　　Datawhichwasrespondedbytheresearcherswhoworkedintheproblemsoncollegestudents’committedsuicideisanotherexample。Atpresent，therateofcommittedsuicideoncampusishigherthanseveralyearsago，whichhascausedattentionaroundthesociety。Somepsychologistsandsociologistsstarttoresearchthisproblem。Theresultoftheirresearchiscollegestudents’pressurewhichisthemainkillerthatleadstostudents’highrateofcommittedsuicide，especiallytheundergraduateswhofacewithmorepressuresfromthesociety，family，boyfriendsorgirlfriends，thanseveralyearsago。Whenstudentswithperfectdreamssuddenlyfindtheirdreamsdisappearinonesecond，theywouldfallintothecircleofdepressionmoreeasily。Manyofthemchoosedeathtoresolvetheunhappiness。Somesociologistssuggestthatpsychologyshouldbeoneofthemostimportantlessonsincollegeinordertoeducatemoreeligiblestudents。Onlygraduatestudentslearnedhowtofacethemusic，howtofindthebalanceoftheirmentality，theycouldadjustthemselvestothecomplexsociety。
　　Iftheautomanufactorymanageropenedhisheartandmind，comparedhimselftootherinferiorcompany，hewouldfeelhappybecauseofhisachievements。Ifthecollegestudentsunderstandtheyarestilltooyoung，theirfuturemustbebrighterthantheythought，theymaygetmoreandmoresuccessinfuture。Sometimes，choosingtoliveinahappyorunhappywayisonlyachoicewhichismadeinonesecondbyourselves。
　　2。LearningtoAbnegate
　　Theotherwaytodealwithperfectionismistolearntogiveup。InthefarawayAfricanthicket，thereisonewaytocapturelivelymonkey，butthetoolisonlyboxeswithsmallholes。Workersputsomefruitinthebox，coveritandonlyleaveasmallholefromwhichfruitcouldnotbegotten。Monkeyshaveobservedtheworksactionandknowdeliciousfoodinthoseboxes。Whentheystretchtheirhandsintotheholestogetfood，theyfindtheirhandscouldnotbepulledout。Infact，theirhandsaresmallerthantheholes，butthefruitisbiggerthanthesmallholes。Allmonkeybeencheatedandcapturedbyworkers，theydon’tknowtogiveup。Ifthemonkeyslearntogiveupthefruit，theystillcanlivefreelyinthethicket，buttheyforgetlifeismoreimportantthanonetime’sfood。Thisisthemonkey’stragedy。
　　InChineseancientfables，onefablenameKuaFuZhuiRitellsusastorythatamancalledKuaFu，hebelievesandinsistsoncatchingthesun，ofcourse，hedoesn’tcatchesthesunintheendofthestory，andhediesfromthirstandfatigue。Histragedyisalsoexistedinhedoesn’tlearntogiveup。Ifhestoppedtodrinkwater，hewouldnotdieofthirst。
　　Sometimes，imperfectionisanotherkindofbeauty。LifelikesVenuswithbrokenarms，it’sworthyofpursuiting。Livesorallthingsintheworld，however，cometotheworldandappearinfrontofuswithsomethingimperfectlikebeautifulVenuswithbrokenarms。WhenweappreciateVenus’beauty，wehavetoacceptherimperfection。Inanotherwords，whilewemakeourmindtochoosethethingsthatwewant，wemustlearntoacceptitsimperfection。
　　InChineseeducationalhistory，therearetwowisementhathavehadagreatinfluenceuponournation，especiallytheyouth。TheyareConfuciusandMencius。Confuciusholdstheideaofhumanity，Menciusholdstheideaofmoderatewaytodealwitheverything，bothofthemarethemarrowsofChineseeducation。ConfuciusandMenciusteachusthatweshoulddoeverythingwithahumaneheartinamoderateway。Don’toverpursuesomething，anddon’tunderdosomething。Onlydothingsinamoderateway，dowemadeourlifehappily。
　　Conclusion
　　ThroughtheanalysisofthetragiccoloroftheworkTheOldManandtheSea，itcanbefoundthattheoldman’stragedycomesfromhisperfectionismwhichisthecharacteralsoheldbyitsauthor，Hemingway。Atthesametime，thisthesisexplainsthereasonwhyapersonshouldavoidperfectionism，especiallyforyoungpeople。Theyalwaysthinktheyaretheessenceoftheirtime。Becauseoftheiryouthandbeingproud，theyaremoreeasilyindulgedintheiroutsizeddreamandmadethemencircledinastrangecircle。Youngpeoplearefacingwithsuchacomplexandcompetitivesocietythattheyhavetoabnegatetheirselfegoism。Inthethesis，theauthorthinksthatyoungpeopleshouldnotplanforthemselveswithhighstandardthatsurpassestheircapabilities。Sometimeslearningtoabnegateisagoodwaytorelax。Butthemostimportantthingistorealizeoneselfclearly，andaccepttheirdefects。Lifeisimperfect。Onecouldgetnothingafterheshetrieshisherbest。It’simportanttokeepbalanceoftheirinnerheartandnotinvolveinthedepressivecircle。
　　ThetragiccolorofTheOldManandtheSeaanditsauthorHemingway’stragedyteachesus：lifeisimperfection。Overpursuitperfectioninlifeisboundtohurtsomeonehimself。