erenst hemmingway
... old, parallels that cannot be ignored, while many of Hemingway’s writings have the same feeling, it doesn’t become boring because each have an underlying feeling of darkness, and secrecy. In “The Killers,” the darkness lie with Ole, he isn’t afraid to die, and yet most of us find that dreadful. This old man finds it comforting and that is a foreign concept to most readers, as it is with Nick. Darkness has many factors, it can be found in the nothingness that is present in the bar the older waiter visits. He cannot find solace, and therefore, cannot sleep once he gets home. Secrecy is also found in the sleepless nights of our patient waiter. He assumes that, “many must have it,” (33) when referring to his insomnia. However it is inferred that he has told no one, and never plans to, because it is something that isn’t talked about, like the embracing of death, it is not spoken due to fear. Also because, like many of Hemingway’s characters, he holds many of the same characteristics of a code hero, just as Tommy is in “The Light of the World.” Tommy, is cold, and seems one dimensional, but isn’t, his responses tell us so. The mystery in “hills Like White Elephants,” is in the fact that Jig’s, the girl with out a race or nationality, has re invented her whole way of thinking with out even blinking an eye, or hinting of that to her partner. Secrecy in “the Killers” is Sam, the black cook, he is a keeper of the mobs secret, and they assume, rightfully so, that he will keep his mouth shut. It was the way of the white world, and the way it looked, heard, and thought about that race. Race is another bond that ties most of Hemingway’s works together, in all of the selections, he refers to it. Part of the reason is the time period the stories were written. It was a time of much racial controversy, and it was common to use racial slurs. Another reason may be that is gives much insight to how Hemingway thinks and evaluates a situation. In, “The Light of the World,” he says, “six white men and four Indians,” (312) While this is not particularly racist, it implies that the color of the people his characters are surrounded with are important to the plot. Now in the rest of this story, the “Indians” do nothing, actually they are not mentioned again, therefore concluding that they are not a crucial part of the plot and their race has nothing to do with any one’s reactions, or any of the dialogue. In “Hills like White Elephants,” Nationality is mentioned but once, the introductory paragraph, “The American and the girl with him.” (341) this not only infers that the girl is not an American, but that because of that she is not important enough to have a race or nationality. This does not seem to play a large role in the re-birthing of her thoughts of her companion, their unborn child, and herself, but after deeper and more thorough evaluation, it seem that it is a missing piece of her character. The reader starts to wonder why she began with such a pessimistic view of her self and her situation, and why she is reincarnated internally. If she was born American, Hemingway wouldn’t have the need to put, “and the girl that sat beside him.” (341) It is not his style to place unnecessary words on his descriptions of his characters, most often the depth of them is created by the reader. Also in “the Killers,” the cook, Sam, is introduced to us as, “the nigger that cooks.” (73) Most people who interact with more than one race a day tend to find that offensive in the daily language, weather written or spoken. Giving leeway because of the time frame it is written in, and the importance it has to the story. Sam once again shows his desire to have no part in the assistance of, or to be of detriment to the killers’ purpose. He opens the door from the kitchen and tells everyone “[he doesn’t] even [want] to listen to it.”(80) and then shuts the door. He is not simply avoiding the situation; he is actively distancing himself from it. His extreme response towards the incident with the killers may be caused by his social status: especially in that era, black people are considered inferior to white people. Even if he tried to take action, the words of a black man will mean little to police, and his actions will almost certainly come back and haunt him. The Killers, due to the time period, assume that he will be afraid to take action; when asked what they will do to him, one replies, “what would we do to a nigger?” (74) Knowing his social status, they realize there is nothing that he can do. Knowing the killers intentions is a big enough burden for Sam; any attempt to help Ole will result in more trouble that he can stand, and he is aware of this. He does not want to throw away his life in vain attempt to help a white man. All of the selections have one very strong, undeniable relationship; all are set at a gathering place. “The Killers,” takes place in a restaurant, as does “A Clean Well Lighted Place. Train stations seem to have s significance as well, the other to stories are set near or at a train station. This could represent the waiting for some thing monumental to happen, an event, or new start. Tommy and his companion are waiting for a train, and on surface level that seems that is it. After further investigation, the assumption can be made that they are waiting to gain something from this train ride, whether it be a clean slate, or more opportunities, it is unclear. It seems that because they are wai...