Category: Ernest Hemingway

Introduction: a brief overview

Ernest Hemingway is known as a legendary figure of the American culture, because he consistently communicated the American values and aspects of self-image in his literary works. In order to discuss Hemingways depiction of the American values and beliefs, it will be necessary to use three works: The Old Man and the Sea, a novella by Hemingway, Papas Ghost, an article by Gary Buslik, in which the author describes his experience of visiting Hemingways famous place, and Ernest Hemingway, a biographical inquiry into the life of the great writer. The present paper argues that Hemingways idea of the true-born American draws a portrait of a self-made man who has freedom of choice, rises from poverty through hard work and believes only in himself without relying on or hoping for the support of the others or the government.

Summary of the main points of the article and the novella

The Old Man and the Sea narrate about the old fisherman Santiago, who has had as many as eighty-four unlucky days and seeks desperately to catch a large fish. His little friend Manolin, who had fished with Santiago before, is forced by his parents to leave the old man because of their superstitions associated with the old mans regular failures over the months. Therefore, Santiago ventures to the Gulf alone and shortly after finds out that a huge marlin takes his bait. After struggling with the fish for two days, Santiago loses it as a result of the shark attack. However, after having a long rest at home, Santiago reveals no despair to Manolin, instead stating his intention to try again later. In Papas Ghost, G.Buslik narrates about his journey to Cuba and his excursion around the favorite places of Ernest Hemingway. In particular, he visits cafes and bars where Hemingway used to stay for hours writing his literary works, and conducts an interview with Gregorio Fuentes, an acquaintance of the great writer, believed to become a Santiagos.

Ideal of freedom and non-commitment

The first intrinsic characteristic of the American masculinity, or the true American man, according to Hemingways novella, is freedom, interpreted as the absence of obligations and responsibilities except for those directly associated with individual survival. The protagonist of The Old Man and the Sea doesnt seem committed to anyone except for himself, as he has no family and his social status imposes on him not so many obligations, as long as he is a fisherman. The only character the old man closely interacts with is the boy named Manolin, who, as he believes, should be reared and brought up by his parents, but not him: If you were my boy Id take you out and gamble, he said. But you are your fathers and your mothers and you are in the lucky boat. ( Hemingway, p.2). The value of freedom is also reflected in Papas Ghost which demonstrates that Hemingway easily left America with its noisy cities for Cuba, where simple entertainments like fishing gained a new value: Two years later he bought his own boat, Pilar, and over the next several years popped over to the big island when the spirit moved him [&] (Buslik, p.103). As one can assume, the famous writer himself was not actually willing to carry the burden of social obligations like marriage.

Idea of the self-made man as inherent to the American culture

The idea of a self-made man, who grows professionally and economically through hard work is another persistent idea which Hemingway presents in his works. In particular, both Santiago and Manolin adore DiMaggio, an outstanding baseball player: I would like to take the great DiMaggio fishing, the old man said.They say his father was a fisherman. Maybe he was as poor as we are and would understand. (Hemingway, p.5). In fact, in the biographical essay, the great writer is positioned as a self-made man, who had learned to play himself, his own best hero, with superb conviction (Ernest Hemingway, p.4). Furthermore, it is stated that he was Tarzan Hemingway, crouching in the African bush with elephant gun at ready, Bwana Hemingway commanding his native bearers in terse Swahili [&] (Ernest Hemingway, p.4). Therefore, he constructed his image and professional position by growing from a young freelance writer at The Sun to reputable war correspondent and writer. One more argument in favor of self-shaping through hard and honest work is Hemingways attachment to and adoration of Gregorio Fuentes, a great Cuban adventurer, whose success was associated with following the individual path of personality development. As Buslik explains, &for the next two decades he did [care about Hemingway] accompanying the writer on hundreds of fishing trips as leader and confidant (Buslik, p.110).

Self-reliance as an American value communicated by Hemingway

Finally, it is also important to note the tendency of Hemingways characters to rely exceptionally upon their own power and abilities and avoiding hopes for external support. Santiago is a canonical individualist who fully provides for himself even in constraint conditions and reluctantly accepts the food Manolin brings. He stays in the open sea on his own and even dares to begin the struggle with the huge fish without expecting the others backing. Although Santiago is not American by nationality, by his nature and spirit he can be classified as Hemingways canonical American man  independent, regardless of economic conditions, sober in his mind and confident enough the resume his work after such an exhausting failure as the loss of the huge fish. The author of the article Ernest Hemingway is consistent with this idea, as his heroes  awake to a world gone to hell. World War I destroyed belief in the goodness of national governments. Institutions, concepts and insidious groups of friends and ways of life are, when accurately seen, a tyranny, a sentimental or propagandistic rationalization (Ernest Hemingway, p.4). Thus, in the world, where there is no government or reference group to lean on, it is necessary to nurture the belief in oneself and ones own capacities, Hemingway believed.

Conclusion

As one can conclude, Hemingway perceived his compatriots as individualists, who value personal freedom over social status, but still take pains to grow economically, professionally and spiritually, reckoning on their own strength, courage and abilities. Hemingways true man wins his survival in the daily struggles with the anarchic postwar realities, thus feeling eager enough to live and build his future.

Works cited

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and the Sea.

Buslik, G. Papas Ghost. A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean. Palo Alto CA: Travelers Tales, 2008.

Ernest Miller Hemingway. 2009

Hemingway used imagery throughout his short story Cat in the Rain, with each imagery having a distinct representation. Hemingway establishes the environment in which he introduces the couple and the atmosphere and guides the readers in the appropriate direction. Hemingway employed imagery in the Cat in the Rain when describing the Italian hotel, setting the mood for the short narrative. Only the hotels location in Italy is revealed to readers, meaning they are Americans and, therefore, must acquire accommodation elsewhere. That is why they are referred to as Americans, which would be absurd if they were visiting their own country, America. In Hemingway (n.d.), they are described as the sole visitors from America and do not know any other person in the hotel. Additionally, the couple is isolated from the rest of the hotel. They are cut off from the chamber beyond their window, where an empty square can be seen due to the rain (Hemingway, n.d.). The essay shows an instance of how Hemingway used imagery in the short story, giving a vivid impression that the couple is not happy.

From the imagery regarding the couples environment, it is prudent to conclude that they are unhappy about their trip to Italy. They do not appear to get along well. When reading the short story, the woman keeps nagging the husband about getting the cat from the rain and about her hair being unattractive while the husband is in bed, engrossed in reading a book (Donaldson, 2021). One might anticipate that when a young married American couple traveled abroad for work or pleasure, their displays of affection would be more obvious, maybe even more so on a rainy day. According to Hemingway (n.d.), the woman demands to get the cat shielding from the rain under the table due to the rain. The husband gets a cold shoulder from her even though he offers to help her, given the circumstances.

In conclusion, Hemingways use of imagery dramatically adds to the depth of his characters. The reader makes the protagonists psychological experiences and companions more evident. The short story would lose much of its color and clarity without the imagery in the readers mind. The hotel setting has made it possible for readers to comprehend the areas atmosphere.

Reference

Hemingway, E. (n.d.). Cat in the Rain [PDF].

Ernest Hemingway, short story, The End of Something, looks into the life of two young people going through transition, as they witness how the world and people change within over a period of time. The story also explores how those who are going through change desperately stay put and decide to hang on to the present.

The something in Hemingways story takes many forms, from the broken Mill to the fish failure to strike. All these, with deeper meaning in reference to the main characters, Nick and Marjorie relationship

The story opens with In the old days Hortons Bay was a lumbering town. No one who lived in it was out of the sound of the big saws in the mill by the lake. Then one year there were no more logs to make lumber&&. The mill was the main base for Hortons Bay; it was what kept the town alive, with shops and people engaging in all kinds of activities. In the present though, the mill is no longer working, the small town has been deserted, no activities going on, the place is quiet. In relationship to Nick and Marjorie, Hemingway depicts a relationship that once flourished between these two young people. When nothing seemed to get in their way, but in the present things have changed. Just like the broken mill, the relationship between the two is broken down into pieces.

The fishing scene is introduced by the writer to bring out a deeper meaning in relation to Nick and Marjorie. &&..from sandy shallows to twelve feet of dark water. They were trolling on their way to set night lines for rainbow trout During the fishing, Nick notes the following about the fish They arent striking. The fish, not striking symbolizes a lack of interest in Nicks in his relationship with Marjorie. Marjories observation of the fish is that Theyre feeding, but again Nick responds quickly by But they wont strike. Here, Marjorie is of the opinion that there is still a chance of working things out to make their relationship work, but Nick has completely lost interest in Marjorie.

In the hopes that Nick might change his stand, Marjorie does not stop trying to catch the fish, Marjorie did not reel in until the boat touched the shore This is symbolic of Marjories failure to face the reality that her relationship with Nick is no more.

In the story, Nick learns many things about growing up. He is not afraid to face reality, he knows that he can no longer cling to the past, just like the broken mill, it was no longer worth the effort to cling to his relationship with Marjorie. In reference to the love he shared with Marjorie, Nick says It isnt fun anymore. Not any of it. Nick exemplifies a lot of maturities, he undergoes through transition, he realizes that the present will not be present forever and that for one to experience true happiness, one must look beyond what was in the past. To Nick, a new relationship with Bill is what will bring him happiness and satisfaction.

Reference:

Ernest Hemingway (1996) In Our Time: The End of something, Simon & Schuster Publishers, New York, United States.

Introduction

Every person is an individual with definite purposes, needs, and problems. Santiago is an ordinary fisherman that lives according to certain standards and by holding fast to those standards he triumphs even in his defeat. The Old Man and the Sea is a profound and thought-provoking novel of a renowned American writer Ernest Hemingway published in the middle of the 20th century that was highly acclaimed by critics and now is regarded to be an immortal classic. The book tells the story of an old fisherman Santiago who goes fishing on his boat in the sea and manages to hook on a huge marlin but has to struggle with all his forces to get it on the shore.

Santiagos image as an everyman

Santiago is a poor fisherman that makes his living with the help of fish he manages to catch. Though his catch can happen to be tiny and insignificant, the old man does not seem to be upset. However, he believes that he is an unlucky person and that destiny had sent him a period without luck which should be gained again. The struggle accompanies the old man throughout his life; it can be considered an integral part of being an everyman because all people tend to fight for something they passionately want to reach. The eyes of the old man, cheerful and undefeated (Hemingway 10) are always directed to the sea which seems to wage the human being. To his sheer amusement, the old man manages to hook on a marlin that appears to be so huge and too heavy for him.

The main idea of the book is every mans unceasing fight with difficulties and deprivation in life. Through the words of the old man Hemingway tries to bring to the world his conviction that it is the purpose of every man to struggle in life and never surrender: A man can be destroyed but not defeated (Hemingway 48). And just to prove it, losing his prey Santiago does not lose his human pride and dignity. It is actually the feeling of pride that drives him into the ocean following the fish. Santiago respects the fish and thinks that it should not be eaten, he thinks that There is no one worthy of eating him from the manner of his behavior and his great dignity (Hemingway 27). Moreover, it is the fight with marlin that reveals the hidden strength in the old man, though he suffers from physical pain he does not give up morally. In fact, Santiago shows himself as a wise man understanding that it is his weakness that makes his triumph over the fish so significant.

It is necessary to emphasize that the pivotal figure of the book presents an image of everyman. The old man as a vivid representative of the human civilization is opposed here to the fish that seems to fight for its life. The opponent in this fight is strong and powerful and human existence does not presuppose to win the fight, though it concerns the concept of standing ones ground, resisting, and never losing hope, even when the eventual result is always death. To support the idea of the necessity to resist the feeling of disappointment we find Santiagos words in the text: It is silly not to hope&besides I believe it is a sin (Hemingway 12). The old man reaches the coast tired and humiliated with no food but he perceives it with dignity and with no true loss of pride (Hemingway 50).

Conclusion

To conclude, it is necessary to say that Hemingway succeeded not only in writing a story that is understandable to everyone but also in creating a powerful book that inspires every reader to assess their life and not to give up when facing a problem.

References

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Hueber Verlag, 1995.

Despite different attitudes toward war, people cannot ignore one evident truth this event has a tremendous impact on everything. The changes that Frederick Henry experiences in Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms introduce a good example of how one mans perspectives reveal others harshness. Although I have never seen war with my own eyes, I get a good understanding of how conflicts might change. The controversies in Henrys life may be reflected through the prism of my observations of how devastating biased judgments can be. In A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway shows how Henrys desire for self-improvement breaks his current beliefs about service and makes him a dignified man, becoming a solid contribution to my ability to solve real-world problems.

In the beginning, Henry demonstrates his positive thoughts about war and the possibility of fighting and winning. Despite the horrible destructions and ruins, the character is glad the war continues as it is a good way to develop his skills and achieve satisfaction (Vidor). However, the people Henry meets in his life make him reconsider his opinion about military conflicts. He learns that there is nothing as bad as war, and people realize how bad it is they cannot do anything to stop it (Hemingway 53). With time, Henry comes up with the evaluation that completes his transformation. He understands that the world in war might kill the very good and the very gentle and the very brave (Hemingway 267). Instead of developing strength and courage, people should be smart enough to avoid wars.

In my life, I cannot ignore the presence of minor quarrels that become serious conflicts with time. Hemingways story proves that sometimes it is usually more difficult to avoid the problem than to be ready to participate in a debate. When two of my friends were about to end their relationships because of diverse attitudes toward one real-life event, I did everything possible to minimize their disagreements.

The stories like A Farewell to Arms help to create a world free from conflicts and misunderstandings if people are ready to change and recognize their mistakes. Today, it is hard for people to diminish their ambitions even if they know such decisions enhance peace and stability. Thus, Henrys changes in war perspectives should become a good example of how the attitudes of one person might affect others.

Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. Charles Scribners Sons, 1929.

Vidor, Charles, director. A Farewell to Arms. The Selznick Company, 1957.

The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway mainly reflect on the authors personal life and his own experience. What the readers can find in these stories appears very true to life and amazingly realistic. One of the short stories belonging to the book The Nick Adams Stories is Wedding Day. This short story is the embodiment of great literary techniques including autobiography along with involving plot.

The story Wedding Day is a part of the final section from The Nick Adams Stories. Nick is a young man here who is just married and alone with his charming bride they are traveling on their honeymoon. The young couple goes down the river to settle in their cottage for their honeymoon. They are amazed by the beauty of nature in the places surrounding their cottage and those ones they see on their way to the cottage.

The main characters of the story are Nick Adams himself and his bride. Discussing Nick Adams character, it should be stated that he is a reflection of Hemingway himself and is much the embodiment of the authors very personality. In this story, we find Nick at such an important stage of his life as his marriage and honeymoon journey. What is told in this story is a reflection of Hemingways honeymoon when he and his wife enjoyed staying in a beautiful cottage situated on the bank of the picturesque river. Nicks bride can be also described as a reflection of Hemingways first and ever love Hadley Richardson; this charming lady personifies all the dreams by any decent man.

Speaking about literary techniques applied in the story, one of them should be mentioned as a very successful one. In this story, Ernest Hemingway resorts to the use of repetition to emphasize his narration. This stylistic method by Hemingway can be acclaimed as very successful; sometimes it is even mentioned as his carte-de-visite. The readers may see the way the author begins the story paragraphs describing the beauty of the nature surrounding the places the couple visits while their honeymoon, and ends up with similar descriptions; thus, the ideas are repeatedly revisited with slightly different words. This literary technique enables Hemingway to highlight his ideas and gives the storytelling sort of complete and cyclical feeling adding to the self-contained impression it produces.

One more interesting literary technique is autobiography. Nick Adams represents Hemingway himself as has been mentioned above. This literary technique can be seen many times throughout the storytelling. For example, the readers may well remember Hemingways honeymoon with his beloved Hadley Richardson when reading about Nick and his brides honeymoon experience.

In conclusion, Wedding Day short story can be acclaimed as a great piece from the book The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway. The readers are invited to see Nick and Hemingway himself as Nicks prototype in a new light of a lover and a young husband. Nicks character strikes with his love for life, ability to value the beauty of nature surrounding him, and to cherish his beloved one. As far as I am concerned, this story can be evaluated as a nice piece of literature encouraging one to have a new outlook on life and the real values in it. This young mans sincerity alone with his charming bride, their love to each other, and to what they are given by life simply amazes.

Ernest Hemingway and his works have become unique cultural phenomena in their own right due to the immense importance of the revolutionized approach to literature. Moreover, the writers biography not only allows for a better understanding of his works but also helps realize the spirit of an entire generation. The strive for freedom, justice, and brightness in life has led Hemingway to manifest these virtues both by his actions and by the short stories that continue to be perceived as laconic masterpieces even though these works do not resemble many other world-known literary works of art. Hemingway managed to create a wide array of various stories that promote similar basic ideas despite providing a completely different setting and atmosphere.

The prominent American writer clearly did not have to invent most of the plots and the events, as his background and experience provided him with an astonishing amount of real-life stories. Moreover, the plots of Hemingways books could explain the numerous processes that shaped the first part of the 20^th century. Thus, the American writers success can be partially attributed to the legacy of his work as a journalist. The numerous countries this person has visited under extraordinary circumstances can fascinate even modern people. To fully realize the source of Hemingways passion for an active lifestyle, journeys, and a certain set of values, one should analyze his personality.

There are numerous personality theories that seek to examine a person from completely different perspectives. Different frameworks provide great tools that can contribute to the creation of a full picture of Hemingways personality and explain the phenomenon of his success. A person whose career is based primarily on writing laconic novels and short stories led him to win the Nobel Prize in Literature is an outstanding figure that is of major interest to me. Therefore, this work seeks to examine Hemingway by utilizing theoretical perspectives covered in the class. I have chosen to apply the theories of Alfred Adler, Albert Bandura, and Erik Erikson with the aim of providing a comprehensive illustration of all the notable features of Hemingways personality.

It should be noted that Hemingway himself emphasized the role of a personality in his books. The prominent American writer did not often utilize the common archetypes to make the plot more complex and intriguing. Instead, he preferred to examine the inner driving factors behind a persons actions. Many of his books are centered around the transition that the protagonist has to go through in order to answer a set of most important questions in life.

Philosophy and psychology are intertwined in Hemingways books, which makes the analysis of the writers personality a more comprehensive task. Protagonists of many of Hemingways books have to experience various struggles and war episodes. The fact that some of the personality development features described in his books actually represent the writers own development contributes to the analysis presented in this book.

Alfred Adlers theory

Alfred Adler emphasized holism in his Individual Psychology and sought to examine all the major processes that contribute to personality development as integral parts of a personality. Sabates (2020) claims that the theory of organic inferiority and compensation plays a central role in the numerous concepts created by the prominent Austrian psychologist. Alfred Adler was a social idealist, and the theory developed by him highlighted democratic principles in many aspects of peoples lives. For instance, the psychologist advocated the prevention of various mental health problems by promoting humane and tolerant approaches to childrens upbringing. Adler emphasized the importance of childhood experiences and believed that most of the personality features revealed throughout a persons life could be attributed primarily to inferiority and superiority complexes.

Hemingways childhood experiences allowed him to develop a sense of dignity, optimism, and self-confidence. The American writer was one of the six children of a happy, well-educated couple. Flora (2020) notes that the enthusiasm with which his parents sought to encourage their children to be involved in completely different types of activities, ranging from sports to playing the cello, undoubtfully uninfluenced the future writer. Although excessive enthusiasm could probably influence Hemingways attitude to his mother, the boy definitely developed a sense that he can succeed in almost any activity he wants with a certain amount of toil involved.

Despite all other factors, the generally supportive attitude to Hemingways childhood activities has, according to Adlers theory, inspired him to seek success and acknowledgment in an entirely different sphere. Adlers theory implies that The desires of the self-ideal can be hindered by social and ethical demands (Schultz & Schultz, 2017). The struggle that originates from this controversy also became a major theme in Hemingways novels and short stories. Moreover, Hemingway was inspired by peoples ability to be polymaths and be involved in completely different types of activities. Moreover, despite some controversies, his childhood experiences contributed greatly to the acceptance of being bilingual and bicultural as a norm (Monteiro, 2020). Such a stance is vivid in most of Hemingways novels, where the protagonist is bilingual and bicultural and lives abroad.

Erik Erikson

The works of Erik Erikson primarily explain the various stages that a person has to go through to fully succeed in his/her personality development. The lack of experience that I associated with each exact stage can substantially undermine further life experiences. Erikson stressed the importance of ego for personality development and claimed that it is not inferior to the id. The environment where ones childhood years are spent is crucial for developing the most important life perspectives and acceptable norms of behavior. Moreover, the concept of the importance of prolonged adolescence that was emphasized by Erik Erikson in his works is vivid in Hemingways case.

Erik Erikson stressed that the ego identity is the awareness of self-sameness and continuity to the egos synthesizing methods and continuity of ones meaning for others (Rosegrant, 2020). Hemingway was determined in his desire to enlighten a general audience and promote numerous humane ideas during the period of human history that was marked by never-ending wars. The passion that he showed in his attempts to do so shows the importance of serving others and being a productive member of society for Hemingway. Therefore, according to Eriksons theory, Hemingway represents a great example of a person who managed to develop and enhance his personality by obtaining experience from each of Eriksons eight crucial stages.

Albert Bandura

Albert Bandura developed a sophisticated approach to behaviorism and cognitive psychology. The ideas proposed by him allow for a comprehensive understanding of the behavior patterns that a child rapidly accepts due to the lengthy observation and imitation processes. The observations and experiences from childhood tend to constitute the bulk of the actors that influence the decision-making process and lifestyle in general. The fact that Hemingway spent almost all his life traveling to exotic locations and taking part in activities that are generally considered undesirable or even horrifying can be explained by childhood experiences. The prominent American writer spent a substantial part of his childhood camping in the woods, hunting, and fishing.

Comparing personalities

I suppose that Ernest Hemingway was an important historical figure, as he helped to change the perceptions and beliefs of the entire generation through his easy-to-read novels and short stories. I believe that the key features of Hemingways personality that I like helped him succeed in doing so. I think I am a very active person who is always open to new ideas and new experiences. One of my major goals in life is to acquire as many skills and knowledge as possible to actively improve the world by helping struggling communities worldwide. I suppose that I like Hemingway for the abovementioned features I have attributed to myself.

Like Hemingway, I had a childhood full of happy moments, friendly people, and plenty of outdoor activities. According to Banduras theory described by Rumjaun and Narod (2020), it has shaped me a lot, just like Ernest Hemingway. My strive to contribute to the enhancement of living standards across the globe by educating people and, hopefully, mitigating numerous crises that can lead to armed conflicts can also be explained by Eriksons theory.

Some of the norms and expectations of others contrast with the ideal vision of myself and my life goals. The fact that it fuels the inner struggle I have to experience can be explained by Alfred Adlers ideas on the imbalances between ones ideas and chances to implement them. Such desires are dictated by the ego, and the inability to follow them may even lead to severe repercussions. I believe that my worldview has influenced my perceptions of the abovementioned theories and the biography of Ernest Hemingway greatly. I tend to emphasize childhood experiences and perceive the complexes and the desires from that period as the major driving factors behind the most significant decision a person makes during his/her lifetime.

References

Flora, J. M. (2020). The man who wasnt there: A life of Ernest Hemingway by Richard Bradford. The Hemingway Review, 40(1), 126131. Web.

Monteiro, G. (2020). The influence of Spanish writers on Hemingway. The Hemingway Review, 39(2), 6479. 

Rosegrant, J. (2020). Review of The clinical Erik Erikson [Review of the book The clinical Erik Erikson, by S. Schlein]. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 9. Web.

Rumjaun, A., & Narod, F. (2020). Social learning theory  Albert Bandura. In B. Akpan & T.J. Kennedy (Eds.), Science education in theory and practice (pp. 8599). Springer. 

Sabates, A. M. (2020). Individual psychology of Alfred Adler. The Wiley Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences: Models and Theories, 111115. Web.

Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2017). Theories of personality (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

The book The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926 and was the first novel published by the renowned Novelist Ernest Hemmingway. The book is also known as Fiesta in some countries because this was the original title that Hemmingway chose for the novel. The Sun Also Rises expounds upon the values and lives of the Lost generation.

In page 13 of the book Hemmingway describes the lost generation as those who were born and grew up during World War I and prior to the Great Depression. The term also describes literary modernists because this was the generation that grew up in the aftermath of what was once thought to be the last Great War. Their time saw the death of many old ideas. For example, World War I saw the end of mass infantry charges that were prevalent during previous eras because fast firing rifles and machine guns made such tactics suicidal. It also saw the failure of the so-called Balance of Power, a series of alliances, in preventing war, all the alliances did was when war did start it involved all the allies turning what was a minor affair between Serbia and Austria into a World War.

The Novel itself revolves around the experiences of Jake Barnes and several other people that he met when he went to Pamplona, Spain to see the annual bull fights and fiesta. As a former American Serviceman in World War I he was castrated and is unable to perform sexual congress. As a result he cannot manifest his carnal desire for Brett Ashley with whom he carries out an affair. The Story ends with the fiesta at Pamplona where the characters play out their anxieties and desires along with drinking large quantities of liquor.

The significance of national identity in The Sun Also Rises can be seen in the damaged psyche and physiology of the characters involved. As most of the characters are from nations that participated in World War I they have been changed and now diverge from how they are supposed to be. These changes can best be seen in the lives of the three main characters. Jake Barnes, Brett (Lady Ashley) and Robert Cohn.

Jake Barnes is a veteran of the great war. As a result of his service in the war he was castrated and is now unable to consummate sexual intercourse. Not only has the war crippled his physiology it has also crippled his soul as well. In fact, despite being a man and sexual attracted to Brett his wound renders him unable to consummate their mutual lust for one another. As a result his attraction only serves to torture his mind. The story follows him as he has lost his direction in life and attempts to overcome his trauma by drinking, fishing and watching bullfights.

His sense of morality has also been changed by the war. Born of the American Midwest his kind is generally not given to racism and bigotry. However, his experiences have transformed him into someone who hates Robert Cohn, a Jew. Not only is he disliked by Barnes for his religion he is also disliked for not being a war veteran like Barnes. Cohn had not served in the war, like most veterans Barnes looks down upon him and considers it highly contemptible that Cohn should have Brett when he could not.

This bitterness is best expressed by his willingness to pimp Brett to Pedro Romero, a bull fighter he admired, over Cohn because in his opinion Romero is a more fitting mate for his Brett. Even if Romero is not a soldier or a veteran of the war Barnes still considers him more respectable because Romero risks his life on a daily basis at the Matador arena. Barnes also considers The Count, Bretts fiancé, as worthy because of The Counts many war-wounds.

Brett, also known as Lady Ashley is the woman upon whom the lust of most of the male characters in the book. She, ostensibly, represents the modernity of western women during the post-war era. The book presents her as being elusive and promiscuous in contrast to the conservative and demure norm expected of women. She is completely different from the old-fashioned norm, based on her portrayal she would not be lost in the modern day.

One example of this is her out-right promiscuous behavior. In fact she attempts numerous affairs with the male characters in the book. Oddly enough even though she also goes against the feminine norm in dress and speech the men around her find her attractive. As the only female character the book presents her to be almost Venus-like in her ability to attract men.

Like Barnes she is also a damaged person. Her willingness to experience any and all things is actually a pursuit of happiness which constantly eludes her. Although she satisfies her carnal desires by having so many affairs with many men, she feels dirty. This is shown by her frequent tendency to take baths as if trying to remove the stain of her lustful behavior.

The story reveals that her unhappiness also stems from her harrowing experiences in a military hospital during the war. Seeing how the victims of modern war were maimed in such new and novel ways traumatized Brett. Her behavior renders her pariah to other women hence she can only socialize with men making her even more offensive to feminine norms. But perhaps the greatest source of her continued dissatisfaction is the fact that Barnes and Brett can never consummate their mutual lust for each other.

Brett represents post-war women who are left adrift by the war. After realizing that they too can occupy jobs and positions previously left to the province of men Women began to demand greater rights. The most immediate result of these demands was the crystallization of the Universal Suffrage movement that finally allowed women to vote.

Robert Cohn status as an outsider as a result of being Jewish has caused Cohn to develop an inferiority complex. He is the foil to Barnes and is quite easily the most unfortunate individual in the story. He tries to be civil to others but is met with scorn. He is insecure and self-conscious, perpetually broke and a dabbler in the arts. Cohn has a history of being controlled by the women in his life. As he did not participate in World War I it would appear that he was not touched by the war.

However, he is not completely helpless as Barnes derides him to be. He is a boxer who is good enough in his sport to beat Barnes and mike. Rather than being a mere object of derision, Cohn is Hemmingways foil in the book. He is used to show what Barnes was before he was traumatized by the war. Barnes hatred appears to be his attempt to wound Cohn and makes him just like Barnes.

The Jew symbolizes the pre-war innocence of society. Unlike the wounded personalities of the other two characters Cohn his flaws come from his upbringing as a victim of bigotry. Like his fellow Jews at that time Cohn lacks a country of his own and is oppressed the world over.

The Spaniard Pedro Romero offers a unique look due to his separate national identity. The Spaniard was too young to fight in World War I and at any rate his country did not participate in that blood-letting. Spanish conservatism is a sharp contrast to the promiscuity that Brett practices and hence he is uniquely attractive to Brett as being clean. As a bull fighter who risks his life in the matadors arena, Barnes actually admires Romero and considers him a worthy substitute for Bretts sexual appetites.

From a historical point of view the characters in The Sun also rises are symbolic of the generation that was ruined by World War I. Their generation was devastated by the war and would be unable to recover its moral and ethical bearings to the point that they would be lost in the turbulent decades that will lead up to the Great Depression and World War II.

For example, Barnes is symbolic of the generation of veterans who came back from the horrors of trench warfare with their psyche permanently scarred. While Americans came home flush with victory, having saved the western powers from the Kaisers armies they still returned horrified by the war. In fact, the war would have such an impression of America that an Isolationist policy was carried out by its government. The United States unwillingness to intervene in international affairs is partly to blame for the next World War.

Unlike the U.S. the Europeans were utterly devastated, the Counts numerous war wounds is symbolic of the destruction wrought upon Europe. Millions died during the war and the European economies were ruined. The economic dislocation coupled with the inability of the soldiers to return to normal lives eventually led to two additional ills that would spark the next war.

First, the ruined economies of the victorious powers led to a vindictiveness that would manifest in the ruinous war indemnity they would impose upon the defeated. Germany was saddled with such a heavy burden that it would be impossible for them to recover economically. The result was that Germany could not reestablish itself after the war and many were jobless. This lead to the phenomenon of Freikorps, or Free Corps, bodies of ex-soldiers who remained organized and would later wage private wars against other elements of societies which they perceived as their enemies. The Freikorps would later be a fertile recruitment ground for the Nazi Party.

The second is the sheer aversion to war. The desire not to go to war was so dearly held in the U.K. and France that the western powers were willing to offer heavy concessions to Nazi Germany just to avoid war. Many of Hitlers early success prior to the start of actually hostilities can be attributed to the Wests unwillingness to use violence to put a stop to the Dictators ambitions.

Womens rights took great leaps during the post-war period. Due to the large number of men deployed by all sides during the war, women took their place on the factory lines. The greater role women in society during the war stimulated them into further asserting their rights. Among those rights was the right to vote. Women also realized a greater level of freedom as they were no longer confined to home and the few cottage industries which were thought to be their only places in society. While Bretts promiscuous behavior is ahead of her time it was true that post World War I women were enjoying unprecedented freedom.

Cohn the Jew, aside from being a foil to Barnes, is also symbolic of his people struggle at the time. With no country to call their own and heavily discriminated against the Jews were downtrodden and miserable like him. Within a few short decades the tragedy of the Holocaust and their own desire for a country to call their own would lead to the formation of the State of Israel ending their status as a people without a nation.

In sum, the National identities of the characters in The Sun Also Rises can be seen in the trauma the post-war generation endured. The mental and physical scars greatly changed the people who participated in the war as can be seen in Barnes who used to be more like Cohn. When Ernest Hemmingway wrote the novel the people and events described were contemporary. Today some eight decades later we see that the excesses of that generation which occurred as a reaction to their wounds would later lead to another World War.

Bibliography

Performance Art: Jake Barnes and Masculine Signification in The Sun Also Rises Ira Elliott American Literature, Vol. 67, No. 1 (1995), pp. 77-94

&Also Belmonte imposed conditions and insisted that his bulls should not be too large, nor too dangerously armed with horns, and so the element that was necessary to give the sensation of the tragedy was not there, and the public, who wanted three times as much from Belmonte, who was sick with a fistula, as Belmonte had ever been able to give, felt defrauded and cheated, and Belmontes jaw came further out in contempt, and his face turned yellower, and he moved with greater difficulty as his pain increased, and finally the crowd was actively against him, and he was utterly contemptuous and indifferent. He had meant to have a great afternoon, and instead, it was an afternoon of sneers, shouted insults, and finally a volley of cushions and pieces of bread and vegetables, thrown down at him in the plaza where he had had his greatest triumphs. His jaw only went further out. Sometimes he turned to smile that toothed, long-jawed, lipless smile when he was called something particularly insulting, and always the pain that any movement produced grew stronger and stronger until finally, his yellow face was parchment color, and after his second bull was dead and the throwing of bread and cushions was over, after he had saluted the President with the same wolf-jawed smile and contemptuous eyes, and handed his sword over the Barrera to be wiped, and put back in its case, he passed through into the Callejon and leaned on the Barrera below us, his head on his arms, not seeing, not hearing anything, only going through his pain. When he looked up, finally, he asked for a drink of water. He swallowed a little, rinsed his mouth, spat the water, took his cape, and went back into the ring.

The chosen extract reveals the idea of the Lost Generation, which is one of the most important themes not only in The Sun Also Rises but in the entire of Ernest Hemingways literary writing. His works are characterized by allusions and multilayer texts and in this very extract, Hemingway depicts the problem of the people of the Lost Generation via several symbols. The bullfight itself symbolizes World War I with its death, blood, and senselessness. And Belmonte, the bullfighter, is the personification of Lost Generation, once indispensable or even heroic, later empty, forgotten, and avoided. Belmontes returning to the bullfighting after his glory years of victories disappoints the public. He is not trying to show the miracle, he supposes he himself is already the miracle due to his past heroic deeds, and his only appearance and easy victory will make the public go mad about his talent. But the public wants more and rather seeks for new show than minds his past exploits; people are even hostile and show up direct aggression against the bullfighter. That, of course, provokes Belmontes hatred and contempt, he has nothing to do with this world anymore, he has nothing to do in this world, so he has lost his interest, and actually, he has lost himself.

As for the technique used in this extract (and all along with the story), it is necessary to note that a lot of critics consider The Sun Also Rises to be a story, written in hard narrative prose which makes ashamed literary English. The Sun Also Rises is characterized by the spare written prose which made Ernest Hemingway famous, and this style is considered to be Hemingways greatest contribution to world literature. And the taken piece reveals this authors style  pure narration with a considerable number of nouns and verbs and not numerous adjectives and adverbs which made some critics blame Hemingway for the simplicity of his texts. But, undoubtedly, the simplicity of his writings is misleading for Hemingway used omission, allusion, and understatement making the text multilayered. The following lines can exemplify this technique: When he looked up, finally, he asked for a drink of water. He swallowed a little, rinsed his mouth, spat the water, took his cape, and went back into the ring. It may seem that there is only the enumeration of tired man actions. But these actions depict the contempt and disappointment of the man, his being lost and a little bit indifferent to the surroundings but, nevertheless, his determination. Hemingways omissions make the reader close a gap, following the instructions made by the author, and build up three-dimensional text. Hemingway believed it would be pointless to depict emotions; he chiseled his bright collages of images so the reader could see the real thing.

Another technique typical for Ernest Hemingway is his writing in short sentences (His jaw only went further out.) or really verbose sentences built up by phrases and clauses connected via conjunctions: Sometimes he turned to smile that toothed, long-jawed, lipless smile when he was called something particularly insulting, and always the pain that any movement produced grew stronger and stronger until finally, his yellow face was parchment color, and after his second bull was dead and the throwing of bread and cushions was over, after he had saluted the President with the same wolf-jawed smile and contemptuous eyes, and handed his sword over the Barrera to be wiped, and put back in its case, he passed through into the Callejon and leaned on the Barrera below us, his head on his arms, not seeing, not hearing anything, only going through his pain. Using his short sentences Hemingway underlines some event or emotion, and in contrast to it, long sentences lead the e-reader through numerous words to sudden but logical result, holding the readers attention.

It is also worth mentioning the stylistic scheme which is a characteristic feature of Hemingways works  polysyndeton. With the help of polysyndeton he conveys a timeless immediacy, Hemingway uses conjunctions to confront visions and characters; Jackson Benson, the critic, collates them with haikus. The extract under consideration abounds in polysyndeton, e.g.: &and Belmontes jaw came further out in contempt, and his face turned yellower, and he moved with greater difficulty as his pain increased, and finally the crowd was actively against him, and he was utterly contemptuous and indifferent. The usage of this technique serves to create the effect of a quick course of events and abruption: Belmonte becomes indifferent. Another stylistic method, used in the chosen text is asyndeton: He swallowed a little, rinsed his mouth, spat the water, took his cape, and went back into the ring. Its use speeds up the rhythm of a passage, making the main idea more vivid; the author makes the reader feel the tension, determination, and even a kind of solemnity.

Hemingways The Sun Also Rises is still discussed, due to the intricacy and symbolism. His simple writing evokes really strong emotions and exposes eternal issues. So it is necessary to proceed with attempts and look for new readings and new meanings to enrich particular reader life experiences.

Introduction

Life has many turning moments that make people realize that there are on the wrong path, and that allows them to change their lives for the better. Hills Like White Elephants written by E. Hemingway and The Story of an Hour by K. Chopin both tell stories of such moments in the lives of couples. The main characters are women who need to overcome harsh events: one needs to decide whether to have an abortion or not, the other learns about her heart disease and the death of her husband. Women are presented as weak, subordinate to men, and unable to make decisions because their partners always control them and tell them what to do. This paper will compare the themes of weaknesses of human nature, life and death, relationships based on similarities that both characters of stories have, and how womens behavior changes when not being dependent on men.

Differences Between the Stories

Hills Like White Elephants tells about Jig and her partner, the American. Jig finds out that she is pregnant, and the American manipulates her into having an abortion. The story pictures Jig as being abused and subordinate to her partner, who clearly states that he does not want her to have a baby and wants Jig to get rid of the unborn child. As opposed to Hemingways story, Mrs. Mallard finds out that her husband was killed in a train crash (Chopin, p. 59). She feels relief rather than grief because her husband was controlling her life.

The American implies that the only way Jig can keep the relationship with her partner is to have an abortion and get back to life before pregnancy. He tells Jig, Its an awfully simple operation, Jig. Well be fine afterward. Just like we were before& I think its the best thing to do. But I dont want you to do it if you dont want to (Hemingway, pp. 213-214). The words of the American suggest that Jig does not make decisions on her own; she is inferior to the man who holds a superior position. When Mrs. Mallard realizes that her husband will not come back home anymore, Mrs. Mallard whispers, Free! Body and soul free! (Chopin, p. 60), which suggests that she was waiting for her freedom. In contrast to Jig, who follows the will of the American blindly, Mrs. Mallard wants to get rid of her husbands pressure, and she had this desire long before the news about her partners death came.

Talking about characters dependency, one can state that the partner has always told Jig what to do, but now she decides that she needs freedom. His repeating conversations about having an abortion make the woman understand her partner is selfish and only cares about himself. After realizing that she is alone in her life despite having a partner, If Jig follows the decision of the American, she might never have her will back as once they take it away, you never get it back (Hemingway, p. 214). Having a baby and making a choice of not having an abortion symbolizes the freedom and opportunity to pursue a will that Jig has not had before due to her subordinate position.

Jig re-evaluates her previous experience; she understands that the ability to make a choice and control her own life is what constitutes freedom. Whereas Mrs. Mallard perceives freedom and life as equal terms, but she is unable to address the behavior of her husband. When she abandoned herself, a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath, Free, free, free! (Chopin, p. 60). Mrs. Mallard was dreaming about free life that would be vivid and joyful; however, it was not meant to be for her.

Jig needs a symbol of her own will and decision as she was always under pressure from her partner without an opportunity to express herself. A baby could signify her rebellion against the partner and her fight against the perception of women as being weak. Jig takes control over the situation, does not rely on the man, and says consciously to the American to stop talking (Hemingway, p. 214). Consequently, Jig gets rid of the American, who is talking only about his desires, and his will, and now she can create her own fulfilling life.

After the revelation of the death, Mallards husband appears at the door, and she understands that the pressure will come back; her weak heart stops beating, and she dies. In contrast to Mrs. Mallars, Jig is suffering from manipulation but has the freedom to leave her partner because they are not married. On the opposite, Mrs. Mallard is oppressed by her husband but stays obedient to save the family.

Narratives of Hills Like White Elephants and The Story of an Hour illustrate the themes of womens weaknesses and perception of them as not valuable enough to have independent lives. However, Jig accepts the suggestion to have an abortion, and one might claim that she stays with her partner because of her fear that he can leave her. Conversely, Mrs. Ballard dies because of the shock from her husbands return, and it might be stated that she, in contrast to Jig, cannot stand her partner anymore.

Similarities Between the Stories

The similarities can be found between Jig and a character from The Story of an Hour, Mrs. Mallard, who is also insecure about her marriage and relationship. Chopin describes Mallards married life by telling the following, There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature (p. 60). Her husband controls her life, and she has been negatively affected by his authoritative behavior.

Hemingway and Chopin use symbolism to express specific features that define the narratives. On the one hand, white elephants that appear in the quote of Jig symbolize the expensive burden that is hard to maintain that prevents a couple from living free life from the view of Americans. The white elephant is the unborn child that would hinder the experience of the American and Jig if she would decide to keep a child (Hemingway, p. 213). On the other hand, open window that is drawn in The Story of an Hour symbolizes the freedom that is waiting for Mrs. Mallard when her husband dies. Mrs. Mallard is sitting in a comfortable, roomy armchair that depicts the rest from the despotic marriage from which she cannot escape (Chopin, p. 60). The authors capture a unique sense of freedom that only women who experienced oppressive and abusive relationships may have by creating a metaphoric comparison.

One can also state that there is an autobiographical line in each story. Chopin that was a feminist in her life (Contreras) and wanted to picture a character that does not depend on her feminine weaknesses, portrays Mrs. Ballard as a strong woman who is not afraid of death. Hemingway who was known to be a womens lover (Nicol), in contrast, shows a masculine mindset by illustrating the thoughts and phrases of the American who is trying to underestimate the consequences associated with an abortion by saying, Its an awfully simple operation, Jig (Hemingway, p. 213). Feminine and masculine mentality clash in the narratives to suggest women that should have freedom.

Both women are unwilling to deal with conflicts they have with partners during their relationship and cannot face the issues without fear. The plots indicate that the social role of the female gender at the time when Chopin and Hemingway wrote stories was inferior to males and dependent on men. Nevertheless, either story implied the necessity to give women freedom. It foresaw the evolution of womens positions in society and the development of new patterns when women are given more independence and opportunities to make decisions about their lives.

Conclusion

Women can embrace their freedom and change their lives by escaping from the men that do not deserve them. These harsh changes that women go through help them realize their ability to be on their own, have the freedom and choose their paths without depending on mens decisions. Both stories show turning moments in life that give their characters a perspective of themselves and the opportunity to look at their lives from a different angle. They may seem weak due to their unhealthy relationships; however, they have inner power and will.

References

Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Literature: A Portable Anthology. 3rd ed., edited by Janet E. Gardner, Beverly Lawn, Jack Ridl, and Peter Schakel, Bedford/St.Martins, 2013, pp. 59-61.

Contreras, Deb. Feminist View of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour. Owlcation, 2018. 

Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants. Literature: A Portable Anthology. 3rd ed., edited by Janet E. Gardner, Beverly Lawn, Jack Ridl, and Peter Schakel, Bedford/St.Martins, 2013, pp. 213-214.

Nicol, Patricia. For Whom the Wedding Bell tolls: Four Marriages and Endless Mistresses& How did the Women in Ernest Hemingways Life put up with Him? Daily Mail, 2014.