《海上扁舟》是斯蒂芬·克莱恩的巅峰之作,篇幅虽小,但包含了丰富的哲理性思考。小说从存在主义的角度来探寻克莱恩关于人类自身生存状况的探索。以船上四个社会背景和地位不同的人共同在汹涌的大海上与海浪搏击来隐喻人类自身生存的现状。人类生存的世界是一个荒诞、虚无和不确定的世界,为了给自身的生存赋予一种实际的意义,人类不得不在荒诞和虚无中进行积极的选择,在这种选择中体现人性力量的强大。 “Boat at Sea” is the pinnacle of Stephen Klein, a small space, but contains a wealth of philosophical thinking. From the perspective of existentialism, the novel explores Klein ’s exploration of the existence of mankind itself. With the four social backgrounds and status of people on board common in the turbulent sea fighting with the waves to metaphor the status quo of human existence. The world in which mankind lives is a world of absurdity, nihility and uncertainty. In order to give practical meaning to its own existence, mankind has to make a positive choice in absurdity and nothingness, and in this choice embodies the strength of human nature.