Analyzing Ernest Hemingway's 'The End Of Something'
The End of Something: Analysis Questions
1. Hemingway writes about the idea of the end of something as the beginning of something else. Marjorie and Nick go fishing, and Nick breaks up with Marjorie, implying that there are other fish in the sea. Marjorie rows off in the distance as a new character, Bill, comes forth and also begins to watch the fishing rods; possibly, he will take his chance with Nick.
2. Nick and Marjorie observe the ruin of the old mill that used to support the entire town, which has become a ghost town. Thus the “old ruin” is part of the theme of the end of something. Marjorie sees it as an old castle and romanticizes its presence with nostalgia
3. Nick means that he is not taking Marjorie’s advances any longer because he is not striking at Marjorie’s womanly bait. Nick is not taking the bait is what is meant by: “They aren’t striking.” Nick is like one of the fish in the sea.
4. They are going to bait rainbow trout with the pail of perch.
5. Marjorie’s actions suggest that she is inexperienced with fishing because she has to be instructed by Nick, and she can only behead the smallest of bait; this is said because this is something that you don’t have to do.
6. Nick says, “You know everything” to …show more content…
The title of this story is intentionally ambiguous. It could refer to the end of the town that the ruin of the mill represents, or it could mean the end of the relationship between Nick and Marjorie. Other, less obvious, implications of the title could suggest the end of the age of innocence, for Marjorie’s fairy-tale princess interpretation of the ruin as a castle, and of her fishing trips with her loved boyfriend are crumbled forever. Nick’s confidence has ended, as well, because he is unsure if he made the right choice. Additionally, the title could mean that the sexual inclination of Nick has changed, thereby ending his heterosexual days. The title could also predict the future end of Nick and Bill’s
1. Hemingway writes about the idea of the end of something as the beginning of something else. Marjorie and Nick go fishing, and Nick breaks up with Marjorie, implying that there are other fish in the sea. Marjorie rows off in the distance as a new character, Bill, comes forth and also begins to watch the fishing rods; possibly, he will take his chance with Nick.
2. Nick and Marjorie observe the ruin of the old mill that used to support the entire town, which has become a ghost town. Thus the “old ruin” is part of the theme of the end of something. Marjorie sees it as an old castle and romanticizes its presence with nostalgia
3. Nick means that he is not taking Marjorie’s advances any longer because he is not striking at Marjorie’s womanly bait. Nick is not taking the bait is what is meant by: “They aren’t striking.” Nick is like one of the fish in the sea.
4. They are going to bait rainbow trout with the pail of perch.
5. Marjorie’s actions suggest that she is inexperienced with fishing because she has to be instructed by Nick, and she can only behead the smallest of bait; this is said because this is something that you don’t have to do.
6. Nick says, “You know everything” to …show more content…
The title of this story is intentionally ambiguous. It could refer to the end of the town that the ruin of the mill represents, or it could mean the end of the relationship between Nick and Marjorie. Other, less obvious, implications of the title could suggest the end of the age of innocence, for Marjorie’s fairy-tale princess interpretation of the ruin as a castle, and of her fishing trips with her loved boyfriend are crumbled forever. Nick’s confidence has ended, as well, because he is unsure if he made the right choice. Additionally, the title could mean that the sexual inclination of Nick has changed, thereby ending his heterosexual days. The title could also predict the future end of Nick and Bill’s