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Ernest Hemingway The style and expression of Ernest Hemingway has dazzled readers for over seventy years. He has produced works such as A Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and the Sea, The Sun Also Rises, and In Our Time, which are individually inspired by Hemingway? s attempt to maintain sanity in an insane world. His novels and short stories span the horizon from war to romance and from nature to friendship. Hemingway?
s contribution to the modern literary movement is original, thought provoking, and unsurpassed by any other author of the time. As one critic describes him, ? Hemingway now is myth, and so is permanent an image of American heroism, or perhaps more ruefully the American illusion of heroism, ? (Bloom 4). Hemingway led a life which included many accomplishments, yet ended in bitter despair and suffering.
Born July 21, 1899, Hemingway grew up and lived his early years with his family in Oak Park, Illinois. He enlisted in the military in 1918 to serve in World War I, where he was an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in Italy. However, Hemingway was injured under mortar fire at Fossalta di Piave yet remained in Paris forthe next several years. He worked for several publications and had the opportunity to interview Mussolini and Clemenceau.
In 1924, Hemingway published his first novel in Paris, In Our Time. Also, Hemingway married Hadley Richardson, yet the marriage lasted only three years until he remarried Pauline Pfeiffer. Hemingway returned to the United States and settled in Key West, Florida. He developed his love of nature during this period while he fished and spent time observing the ocean.
Hemingway? s early lifeway filled with travel and experiences that inspired his later writing (Rovit 13). Ernest Hemingway? s later life included more exotic adventures, serving in World War II, and ends in total disaster. In 1934, he went on his first of many expeditions to Africa, while also making stops in Spain and Paris. Several more of his novels and other short stories were published during this time, including The Old Man and the Sea.
Hemingway covered the Spanish Civil War for the North American Newspaper Alliance, and helped produce a film, The Spanish Earth, during the late 1930? s. Also, Pfeifferdivorced Hemingway, and he married Martha Gelhorn. During World War II, he served England through the Royal Air Force and participated in the Normandy invasion. After only five years, Hemingway divorced Gelhorn and married Mary Welsh. Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in 1954, and he was reported dead in a plane crash a few days later by the world press.
However, Hemingway didn? t really die at that point, but he committed suicide at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, on July, 2, 1961. His life was filled with great opportunities and accomplishments, yet Hemingway passed away with a tragic and very depressing death (Rovit 13 - 14). Throughout his writing, Hemingway developed a style that was genuinely his but also had a touch of previous writers?
influence. In Hemingway? s earlier work, there is a definite sense of objectivity, a complete lack of thinking, and prose, which was incredibly sharp, yet simple. In Our Time displays these characteristics and is a clear example otis style of writing. Also, his earlier career as a journalist becomes clear in his earlier work. He puts specific emphasis on the main point and attempts to convey the message this sharp, descriptive method.
Hemingway also uses different and often unusual images to place a collage in the readers? mind that often surrounds the central theme or subject. He uses unique situations that catch the reader off guard and inspire the reader think. Hemingway? s early writing contained nearly all of these characteristics which reflect many of his experiences in life (Lee 13 - 19). In Our Time has four central themes which become a part of nearly every piece of work by Ernest Hemingway.
First, there is the main or central character in each novel or short story that in some way deals with the central character in the preceding or following work. This exists in each of Hemingway? s productions, beginning with In Our Time. Second, there is a theme which remains constant throughout the novel.
For example, the common theme of In Our Time is warfare, and this is the central focus throughout. Next, there is a central location in which the whole novel takes place. There may be brief journeys from the main location, but the novel will always return to the location that has remained constant throughout. Finally, Hemingway mysteriously weaves the characters together in a fashion that shows both their relation yet allows for their independence. Heroes this in ways that allow for the individuality of each character.
These four characteristics of Hemingway? s writing exist in all of his work starting with In Our Time (Lee 20 - 21). The Sun Also Rises, like In Our Time, contains a style that adds to what Hemingway established in his earlier work. Every sentence contained in the novel appears to be alive, presents increased interest to the reader, and keeps the meaning of the central theme fresh. As one critic says, ?
There is no one writing whose prose has more the force and vibrancy of good, direct, natural, colloquial speech. His dialogue is so natural that it hardly seems as if it is written at all- one hears it, ? (Wagner-Martin 2). However, style still remains the focus in The Sun Also Rises. As Hemingway became increasingly popular on the modernistic scene, his love of innovation took full effect.
He yearned to produce a unique style that he could call his own. Hemingway loved to create the image and let the readers produce their own meaning, which became the trend throughout the modern era (Wagner-Martin 9). This trend of allowing the reader to decide the outcome becomes most obvious inThe Sun Also Rises through the relationship of the two main characters, Jake Barnes and Brett Ashley. Hemingway?
s goal in this novel was to involve the reader throughout and suggest a wide variety of possible interpretations and conclusions that would allow threaded to aquire the desired meaning. This opening for reflection is especially emphasized at the conclusion of the novel. Jake is in love with Brett in the entire novel, but at the end he has a sudden realization and discovery. However, this doesn? t necessarily mean that his feelings have changed, he no longer loves her or now dislikes her, or their strong attraction has lessened because she asks him to rescue her.
Hemingway does show that Jakes realizes that they will never be satisfied with each other and they will never fully work through their problems. Hemingway allows the reader to decide the appropriate ending for The Sun Also Rises that the reader feels is necessary and will give meaning to the outcome (Wagner-Martin 4). A Farewell to Arms, which was Hemingway? s first commercial success, has many elements that make it unique and is also inspired by some of the personal issues that we reoccurring at the time he was writing it. This novel is part autobiographical and part fictional as it deals with Hemingway? s war experience.
A Farewell to Arms is highly imaginative, although Hemingway actually lived out many of the events that occurred. As for the other events, he mentally lived them out and added details that would make the novel seem more realistic. Hemingway? s experiences in love and war are clearly seen inches novel as he works for the Red Cross during World War I.
As for his personal life, Hemingway was going through one of his many divorces prior to and during the war, which was an event that had direct impact on the novel. The storyline was refined through a lengthy series of short stories in order to reach a complete and rewarding novel, both for Hemingway and the reader. Once again, Hemingway expressed his feelings and hints at his conclusion to the novel, yet the reader is allowed to make their own observations and conclusions. A Farewell to Arms, one of Hemingway? s most unique novels, contains many of his standard elements in both an autobiographical and fictional background and setting (Older 38 - 42). The Old Man and the Sea has multiple meanings for each and every reader which allows it to be one of Hemingway?
s most popular novels. It tells the trials and tribulations of an old man and a young boy as they embark on a three day fishing adventure out at sea. The old man, Santiago, hasn? t caught a fish in eighty-four days, is a widower, and has no true companions, with the exception of the young boy, Manolin. Manolin?
s parents want him to leave Santiago because of his lack of success, yet he remains loyal to him and awaits the day of the big catch. On the first day of the expedition, Santiago hooks a huge marlin and has no luck in bringing it in. It remains onthe hook and pulls the small skiff around the sea until the third day. Meanwhile, Manolintries to keep Santiago occupied through discussion and encouragement. Santiago says that he will give up his life before he will release the fish.
On the third day, mako sharks begin to attack the marlin. Santiago finally reaches the shore, and all he is left with is the huge skeleton of the marlin. The tourists and people of the town are shocked. Hemingway allows the reader to decide if Santiago becomes a hero or an embarrassment. Hemingway presents many of his common elements in this novel as well, such as limited dialogue, multiple meanings, strong representation of simple tasks, and a blending of styles. This novel has often been described as being four different kinds of books.
Its been called an epic, fantasy, fable, and realistic fiction (Brenner 39 - 52). I believe that is clearly meant to be a fable. It shows the dedication and determination of the old man finally paying off in a big way, although the marlin is eaten by the sharks. It shows that hard work will eventually be rewarded. I see many symbols and styles throughout The Old Man and the Sea, which clearly indicate that this is a work of Ernest Hemingway. First and foremost, the reader is given the choice to decide throughout the novel, especially at the conclusion.
The reader can decide if Santiago is a hero or a disappointment. Also, all four element of Hemingway? s writing are present in the novel. First, there is a central location throughout the story.
Santiago and Manolin remain in the skiff at sea during the story? s entirety. Next, Santiago remains the central character at every point in the novel. Hemingway felt that this was essential. Third, the main themes of determination and desire remain consistent in all aspects of the storyline. Finally, Manolin provides strong support for Santiago, yet he never interrupts Santiago?
s purpose and meaning. These four element clearly suggest the work of Hemingway. Ernest Hemingway is often called the creator and founder of the modernistic period of American literature. He has inspired many other authors to challenge and support this style of writing that has become so popular. Hemingway will always be remembered for giving the reader the option to decide how the story will end.
The work Ernest Hemingway has been and will be enjoyed for years to come because of the elements that make it so unique and creative.
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