Does the bell toll for the old man? Perhaps it is for the the white elephants. No, the bell tolls for us all. That bell is Ernest Hemingway, and more importantly Ernest Hemingways literary examination of human behavior. Hemingways career was both illustrious and contradictory. His style was blunt, however he was able to display the underlying emotions as a result of a lost understanding of human purpose. His works examine the shadows cast by war, and the effect of a broken generation on society (Schoenberg, 2). Beyond war, Hemingway brings to light underlying emotions and behavior by taking on an omniscient point of view (A Farewell to Arms, 4). It was this reflective style and influence which allowed Hemingways influence to be so powerful…
Hemmingway was among the writers known as expatriates (Putnam, 5). His works reflect an era of war and aftermath, exemplifying the lost generation writers (Putnam, 5). The lost generation can be considered group of writers who questioned the no longer relevant inherited values of their predecessors (“Lost Generation”). These “disillusioned” individuals brought forth a social movement, as well as a new era of literary advancement (“Lost Generation”). Hemingway, among others, greatly influenced this time period through his work and contributions. His works, such as The Sun Also Rises addresses the contempt of society felt by so many in post-World War I society (“Lost Generation”). He moved to Europe seeking the beginnings of a broader human consciousness, beyond the turmoil of the world and war (Putnam, 5). It was his lifestyle among his peers that began the wave of disillusionment among authors and through this a larger understanding of war and the reality of life, bringing forth the topic of human condition among the movements of the time (A Farewell To Arms,…
It is his works, such as Hills like White Elephants, which subtly address modern issues that bring forth the question of morality and purpose to a general population (A Farewell to Arms, 3). It is his short, direct style, exemplified by his six word story “Baby shoes for sale, never worn.”, allows for a clear and deep expression of emotion (A Farewell to Arms, 4). His involvement of incorporating the reader through active reading breaks an emotional barrier set forth by usual text. This action allows for the reader to directly examine Hemingway’s characters, and thus reflect on their own behavior. Hemingway’s mastery of language, subsequent to his fluency in the Romantic languages, allows his works to be overall reflective of human behavior and relate to the reader in an emotional context (A Farewell To Arms,…