A Study Of Death Consciousness And Heroism In Hemingway’s Works

Compared with his contemporaries, Ernest Hemingway showed more curiosity for phenomenon of death. What made Hemingway contact with death earlier than others was his personal experience. Both Hemingway’s parents have direct influence on the formation of his character and hobbies, and his war experience set the main tone of his view of life and death. Due to influences of the western irrationalism ideological trend, Hemingway developed the consciousness which awakens people’s vitality, and he tried hard to rescue modern people who feel lonely, decadent as well as lost, and fell in spiritual dilemma. It is the modernism and post-modernism that affect the works of the novelist whose most literary creation have the theme of death. Hemingway’s attitude toward death changes from fear for death to helplessness before death, then to acknowledgment of death, and finally to transcendence of death. In the writing career of nearly forty years,he created many vivid images of unyielding Man, who are also called code heroes. They show “ grace under pressure ”,face death frankly and dare to struggle against fatalism. The novelist himself is a living example of hero. The tragedy spirit and sublime beauty of Hemingway hero, inspire frustrated people to realize the value of life and defend dignity of man.This paper discusses Hemingway’s life experiences, background and analyses his literary creation. Death consciousness and life consciousness in Ernest Hemingway’s works continually changed and developed. Although the novelist is pessimistic about the world, his attitude toward life is not negative. By portraying the hero images,Hemingway interprets that meeting his doom cannot keep a man from transcending death, realizing the ambition and pursuing eternal goals.