海明威the killers主题

英语二班

朱玉兰

about Nick’s

theme

Because of the darkness and ignorance of the world, Nick Adams, an innocent boy, in his coming age as a man, experiences evil in the world and is a different person at the close than he was at the start. He wanted to escape from the evils, but the society at that time were the same, and he cannot change it. Finally, he would become more and more realistic.

theme

This short story described the society of 1920s. After World War 1, everything in the society has been out of order, it was filled with violence, death and evil. This situation has influenced a lot of people. People’s illusions are vulnerable and can be easily destroyed by the society in a mass.

How does this happens to Nick?

(analyze from Nick and other characters)

A、 Nick vs. gangster

“What are you going to kill Ole Andreson for? What did he ever do to you?” From the passage we can know Nick has so many questions when faces gangsters. Obviously, he is naive and simple, even he doesn’t feel gangsters are dangerous. He doesn’t know that people can be hired to kill others.

theme

“What’s the idea?” Nick asked this question for three times, indicates that Nick haven’t met things like this, he doesn’t know what’s happening.

theme

Nick stood up. He had never had a towel in his mouth before. It shows being gagged was fresh to Nick, he never experiences such a kind of thing. From here, he firstly knows the existence of violence.

B、Nick vs. George

From the passage we can know Nick must be younger than George. George can keep calm, even can talk with gangsters naturally. After the killer’s leaving, he asks Nick to alarm Ole Andreson, but he doesn’t force Nick. It seems George has many experiences about life, he is more mature than Nick, and has totally accepted the situation of the whole society. Maybe we can say, in his opinion, no matter what happens, there is nothing can shock him.

theme

C、Nick vs. Sam

“I don’t like it,” said the cook. “I don’t like any of it at all.” “You better not have anything with it at all.” Sam, the cook, said. “You better stay away out of it.” “I don’t even listen to it,” he said and shut the door. That is Sam’s reaction towards this matter. From Sam’s action, Nick is aware of people’s indifference to the things which have no affect on themselves.

theme

D、Nick vs. Ole Andreson

“I don’t want to know what they were like,” Ole Andreson said. He looked at the wall. Nick feels unexpected about Andreson reaction. He thinks Andreson should have ran away at once. So from Andreson, Nick knows people’s attitude to death. While Ole’s action, which he do nothing to resist have an deep effect on Nick.

theme

E、Nick vs. Mrs. Bell

“I’m sorry he don’t feel well,” the woman said. “He’s an awfully nice person. He was in the ring, you know.” Mrs. Bell thinks Ole is a nice man. S