Ernest Hemmingway

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Ernest Hemmingway

• 1899-1961

Postmodern Author
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Background

• Born in Oak Park near Chicago
• Father was a physician
• After graduating from high school, became
  reporter for Kansas City Star
• Volunteered in overseas war efforts (influenced
  For whom the bell tolls)
• Suffered physical mental illnesses in 1950s
• Committed suicide in 1961

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Major Works

• The Old Man and the Sea
• The Sun Also Rises
• A Farewell to Arms
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• To Have and Have Not

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Themes

• Masculinity
• Grace under pressure/Courage
• Love Sex
• Atavism
• Loyalty to Duty and Comrades
• Death/Violence

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Masculinity

• Created a new type of heroic figure often
  referred to as the Hemingway Hero
• Discusses the role of the male in society as one
  who participates in dangerous activities,
  sporting activities, and womanizing
• Views of masculinity formed during times of
  service in WWI

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Masculinity (cont.)

• From ____

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Grace Under Pressure

• From To Have And Have Not
• Working fast now, the sweat running down his
  face, not stopping to watch the boat coming
  slowly down the channel, the man picked up the
  sacked packages of liquor with his good arm and
  dropped them over the side.

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Love Sex

• The Sun Also Rises
• Widely considered his best novel, though his
  mother called it filthy and begged him not to
  publish it.
• Central conflict 34 year old Jake Barnes falls
  in love with Lady Brett Ashley, but because of a
  genital injury incurred during WWI, cannot
  satisfy her sexually. Although she admits she
  loves him emotionally, she cannot live without
  there being a physical realm to their
  relationship.
• Other conflicts One of his buddies admits to
  having an affair with Lady Brett, placing an
  obvious stress on his friendship with Jake.

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Love Sex (cont.)
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Death Violence