【正文】 n a narrower sense symbolism is the use of iconic figures with particular conventional meanings” (Lentricchia amp。 Mclanghlin, 1990:75).Symbolism tends to broaden the readers’ perceptions, giving the meaning to the object beyond its concrete use or intended meaning. As Barnet points out, “ When we read, we may feel that certain characters and certain things in the story stand for more than themselves, or hint at larger meanings” (Barnet. et al. 2002:195). It may be clear that the author has mentioned certain items or ideas in order to induce the readers to think more deeply about something. On the whole, symbolism is an important element in literature. Symbolism means the systematic use of symbols or pictorial conventions to express an allegorical meaning (, 2004). Symbolism is a series of links between man’s apprehension of the world, and the way he can convey his apprehension. Many writers, in fact most fiction authors, use symbolism as a rhetorical device central to the meaning of their works. Their literary works are often admired for their artful use of symbolism. This thesis attempts to research the symbolism used in the Old Man and the Sea and try to find some symbolic meanings. in the novellaSince the publication of The Old Man and the Sea, there has been much debate surrounding symbolism of the story. At first, even Hemingway himself denied there is symbolism in the novella. He held a quite different attitude towards the experts and critics. He once pointed out that a tale truly could mean many things. But at the same time he reaffirmed “There isn’t any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The sharks are all sharks no better and no worse. All the symbolism that people say is shit. What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know” (Dong Hengzhuan, 1985:145). However, in George Pulinpton’s interview of Hemingway, Hemingway said, “I think there is symbolism” (Dong Hengzhuan, 1985:40). The more than eightyyearold Bernard Beiruisun said, “The Old Man and the Sea is a piece of rural music…a true artist neither symbolize nor fable. Hemingway does a true artist, but any real work of art gives off the symbolic implication with allegory, so does the short and small but significant works.” Hemingway showed great satisfaction to what Bernard said. He thought the problem about symbolism speaks really good and fresh (Dong Hengzhuan, 1985:139). Thus, we can say that he did admit there is symbolism in this novella. analysis of symbolism in the novellaTo begin with, the title of the book itself is a symbol. The old man represents the human race and the sea symbolizes nature. The whole story could be eyed as the metaphor of the struggle that takes place between human beings and the nature. But the story also indicates that nature is, to some extent, superior and that the humankind is not able to win this fighting. Just like what Santiago says “it is good that we do not have to kill the sea and the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers” (Hemingway, 70). Santiago knows that mankind is always inferior。 he admits he is happy that he does not have to try to kill the moon or the stars because he knows they are much stronger and that he would always be defeated in a fight against them. An analysis of Santiago’s character and his symbolic meaningHemingway said in the novella, “Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Santiago is endowed with this optimistic attitude towards lifecourage, confidence, dignity and never gives up. He is the kind of man who shows “grace under pressure”, which is a very important quality of Santiago.At the beginning of the novella, Santiago has gone eightyfour days without catching a fish and the only boy Manolin who follows him is forced to leave his skiff for the old man’s bad luck. This is a kind of pressure. When the old man hooks the biggest marlin never seen in the Gulf Stream, he is alone and he endures a long and grueling struggle with the marlin and he feels lonely and helpless. This is another kind of pressure. However, he is not defeated by the pressure. On the contrary, he shows grace under pressure. As the novella begins, the entire first paragraph emphasizes Santiago’s apparent lack of success. For example, “The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat”(Hemingway, 1). Nevertheless, he keeps confidence in his dignity. So even if having got nothing in the first 84 days, he continues to go out to fish. His mitment to sail out further than any other fishermen has testified his confidence. It also shows his confidence to change his bad luck, because he clearly knows that he was born for conquering the sea, which helps him preserve hope regardless of bad circumstance.Santiago is also an old man full of spiritual power. “Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated” (Ernest Hemingway, 2). We all know that eyes are the windows of one’s soul. It means the old man’s heart or soul is inconvincible and it manifests that the old man is confident and unyielding. Great wisdom, adequate selfconfidence and strong will are his specific characteristics. Although he faces the threat of defeat and death, he shows his spiritual power. He bravely challenges the giant marlin and groups of sharks face to face, showing unbelievable determination and courage. Although he is beaten finally, the skeleton proves that he has fought against his bad environment bravely. His endurance and courage have been tested and proved once more. He loses the battle, but he gets his spiritual success. He is physically destroyed by fate, but he is never spiritually defeated. Santiago is a wise man having rich experience and knowledge. His longterm living experience provides him abundant resources of wisdom so that he is