Expert: Josh Silverstein - 1/31/2005

Question
Was there a theme that Hemingway used over and over again in his works?  Was there a common setting he used (ie Like faulkner's continuous use of the south)?

Thank you

Answer
Hello,

One common Hemingwayesque theme is what one loves must eventually be destroyed.

A good example of this can be seen in "The Old Man and the Sea."

Santiago loves this fish, respects its beauty, its size, its power, but still must demonstrate his own power, mainly for the sake of his pride. When he catches the fish, ties it to the skiff, and hauls it back to shore, frenzied sharks begin to feed on the now defenseless carcass. Santiago acts in the great marlin's defense, protecting its beauty, its dignity, as well as his own triumph over the mammoth beast. He needs to be the sole destroyer of this fish. Yet the marlin is still decimated by the relentless sharks, and Santiago feels he must blame himself for the fish's demise.

Regarding setting, Hemingway seems to like naturalistic settings: many of his short stories take place in the Michigan woods, "The Old Man and the Sea" takes place mostly on the sea, and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is set in the woods and mountains surrounding the Spanish city of Segovia.


Sincerely,


Josh Silverstein
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