Big Two-Hearted River Essay
In “Big Two-Hearted River”, despite the seemingly relaxing subject of fishing, Earnest Hemingway's clever word choices to make it clear that Nick Adams has been through a rough experience, such as war, and is trying to leave whatever happened behind him. His brief thoughts of the past and controlled mannerisms hint to something deeper. By delving into the story and researching (Brin and Page) the allusions and various other elements of the story, we can begin to see the darker tale lurking just beneath the surface. The reader is thrown into the story as the baggage is thrown to Nick in the burnt out town of Seney, Michigan. A quick search shows us that Seney, Michigan is a real place (Wood). However, the town never burned down, instead had once been the center of logging in that area that had become mostly abandoned (Wood). The author's choice to make this change indicates he wants a more striking image for the entrance to the story. Additionally, despite the title referencing the Two-Hearted River, the river near Seney is the Fox River (Wood). This alteration could have been simply because the Two-Hearted river sounds better, or it could have been because the
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image of two hearts adds to the idea of a struggle inside of Nick. As Nick walks through the ruins of the small town and surveys the scorched landscape, the image of fiery ruins of a battlefield are brought to mind. Even though the houses he expected to see on the hillside are gone and the main street has been reduced to nothing, he does not express surprise. Instead, he is drawn by the river where the trout make him “feel all the old feeling.” (980) The way Nick readies for the trek ahead has a habitual feel to it. In the military, it is common to check over your gear, just as he does, before putting it on and adjusting the straps before going on a march. Then, when he sets out the narrator notes that Nick “felt he had left everything behind, the need for thinking, the need to write, other needs. It was all back of him.” (981) This line leads to the question of what he is leaving behind. What does he want to stop thinking and writing about? Nick is very aware of his surroundings throughout the story, he notes the locations and movement of things around him as if checking for danger or anything that is seemingly out of place.
However, even considering his keen awareness, he becomes especially thoughtful about the grasshoppers and their sooty color. Perhaps the sooty grasshopper reminds him of the faces and landscape of war, because this is when he speaks for the first time. “Fly away somewhere” (982), he tells the grasshopper, just like he has done. Once more he turns his attention back to the landscape, surveying everything's location and observing “the ground was good walking” (982). “He knew where he wanted to strike the river” reads militaristic, as if he is on a mission rather than a person merely looking for a relaxing place to
camp. When he finally begins to set up camp, his actions are quick and sure, as if it is something he has done many times. The words 'level' and 'tight' are repeated, emphasizing the exacting nature of his actions. The term 'squared away' is a somewhat versatile phrase, generally meaning, everything as it is supposed to be. The phrase is often applied to paperwork, objects, and even people. Getting a person squared away means ensuring they are working in a proper and efficient manner. If a bed or uniform is squared away, it is tight, neat, and wrinkle free. Which is exactly what he does with his tent, making sure “the canvas was drum tight” (983). After he gets his tent squared away, he crawls inside and basks in being 'done', a word that is repeated as if to provide comfort. “Nothing could touch him.” (984) This idea of safety hints that he did not feel safe in other places. Next, Nick's preparation of coffee draws his mind to his old friend, Hopkins. While the narrator tells us Hopkins was called away because he struck oil in Texas, the details of the story and Hopkins's actions do not seem to add up. During World War I, 4.8 million people served in the war; about 2.8 million of those were drafted. ("U.S. Congress Passes Selective Service Act") If Hopkins received word that he was being drafted, it would not be unreasonable for him to think he may never return and give away his things, as Nick says he does. Additionally, it is mentioned that Hopkins left Black River for Chicago. It is worth noting that the training camp, Camp Grant, is west of Chicago (Gjenvick), so this might be his true destination. They make plans for the future, but Hopkins was never seen again. Perhaps he died in the war. It is either the coffee or dwelling on Hopkins, but Nick's “mind was starting to work” (985). This is immediately followed by the notion of being able to “choke it because he was tired enough” (985), which shows that he does not want to think. Nick avoids further thought by going to bed. When morning comes, once more, the first thing he does is survey the land noting location and movement. For example, he sees where the grasshoppers are and how they behave, and uses this information to create a plan for the best way to hunt them. He meticulously prepares his food for the day before cleaning his campsite and leaving to go fishing. Despite this relaxing environment, Nick constantly works to keeps tight control over himself and his surroundings. As he is fishing, Nick first catches a fish that is too small, so he throws it back. He makes sure to wet his hands before touching the fish so that he does not hurt them. This is an important part of catch and release because every fish is important to reproduction in the ecosystem. (Paetz) His concern for the harmony of nature and disapproval of those without the same regard is a result of his desire to be in balance with nature. He might alter the land for his campsite and eat fish from the river, but he respects the land and does not want to ruin nature. In his second catch of the day, there is a struggle while trying to reel in the fish and his temporary loss of control results in him feeling “a little sick” (989) and he has to sit down. The way that he is quick to such excitement shows that something is not quite right. However, whether this reminds past struggles or of fishing with Hopkins is unclear. Nick eventually makes his way to the swap, but upon looking at it, he is suddenly seized with a desire to not go any further. The phrase “did not want to” (992) is repeated four times in one paragraph. There is no reason for him to feel pressured into going into the swamp, so the level of protestation is not natural. What can the swamp represent to him? It may be that the swamp triggers a memory of his time in war, or it may symbolize something deeper. He began this story in a place of human dominance and destruction, immediately endeavoring to move beyond it. Moving along the river there is a sense of balance between himself and nature, but ultimately he is still in control. He sets out with a specific camp in mind and to be set up in a certain way. This reflects the control he tries to hold on everything, even on his own mind, preventing himself from thinking too freely by concentrating on each task at hand. The swamp, with its low hanging tangle of branches, is a place that nature has control, not him. Nick is not ready to relinquish this control, so he turns back. It is important to see its message as a stand-alone story before considering the background of the author and related stories. Many of the story's references and wording choices, when taken separately, have various interpretations or reasons. However, when they are all taken into consideration, it develops into a story about a man who has served in the war, suffered from the trauma of war, and is now trying to move beyond it. Looking beyond the boundaries of the story supports this idea. This story is part of a series of short stories about Nick Adams that are loosely based on Hemingway's own life, including his involvement in the war. In one of these stories, “Now I Lay Me,” Nick Adams is suffering from a war related injury and uses his thoughts of fishing as a comfort. (“Now I Lay Me” ) Without knowing more about Nick's past, it is still clear that he has experienced trauma during the war. He has left behind the destructive thoughts that came with those experiences, just as he left behind the burnt out town of Seney, Michigan. There is still a struggle under the surface that bubbles up now and again, but like his campsite, he keeps himself and his thoughts squared away. He is not ready for the disorder and lack of control that the swamp represents, but maybe when he is ready for that, he will be free of the thoughts that haunted him and brought him there.
image of two hearts adds to the idea of a struggle inside of Nick. As Nick walks through the ruins of the small town and surveys the scorched landscape, the image of fiery ruins of a battlefield are brought to mind. Even though the houses he expected to see on the hillside are gone and the main street has been reduced to nothing, he does not express surprise. Instead, he is drawn by the river where the trout make him “feel all the old feeling.” (980) The way Nick readies for the trek ahead has a habitual feel to it. In the military, it is common to check over your gear, just as he does, before putting it on and adjusting the straps before going on a march. Then, when he sets out the narrator notes that Nick “felt he had left everything behind, the need for thinking, the need to write, other needs. It was all back of him.” (981) This line leads to the question of what he is leaving behind. What does he want to stop thinking and writing about? Nick is very aware of his surroundings throughout the story, he notes the locations and movement of things around him as if checking for danger or anything that is seemingly out of place.
However, even considering his keen awareness, he becomes especially thoughtful about the grasshoppers and their sooty color. Perhaps the sooty grasshopper reminds him of the faces and landscape of war, because this is when he speaks for the first time. “Fly away somewhere” (982), he tells the grasshopper, just like he has done. Once more he turns his attention back to the landscape, surveying everything's location and observing “the ground was good walking” (982). “He knew where he wanted to strike the river” reads militaristic, as if he is on a mission rather than a person merely looking for a relaxing place to
camp. When he finally begins to set up camp, his actions are quick and sure, as if it is something he has done many times. The words 'level' and 'tight' are repeated, emphasizing the exacting nature of his actions. The term 'squared away' is a somewhat versatile phrase, generally meaning, everything as it is supposed to be. The phrase is often applied to paperwork, objects, and even people. Getting a person squared away means ensuring they are working in a proper and efficient manner. If a bed or uniform is squared away, it is tight, neat, and wrinkle free. Which is exactly what he does with his tent, making sure “the canvas was drum tight” (983). After he gets his tent squared away, he crawls inside and basks in being 'done', a word that is repeated as if to provide comfort. “Nothing could touch him.” (984) This idea of safety hints that he did not feel safe in other places. Next, Nick's preparation of coffee draws his mind to his old friend, Hopkins. While the narrator tells us Hopkins was called away because he struck oil in Texas, the details of the story and Hopkins's actions do not seem to add up. During World War I, 4.8 million people served in the war; about 2.8 million of those were drafted. ("U.S. Congress Passes Selective Service Act") If Hopkins received word that he was being drafted, it would not be unreasonable for him to think he may never return and give away his things, as Nick says he does. Additionally, it is mentioned that Hopkins left Black River for Chicago. It is worth noting that the training camp, Camp Grant, is west of Chicago (Gjenvick), so this might be his true destination. They make plans for the future, but Hopkins was never seen again. Perhaps he died in the war. It is either the coffee or dwelling on Hopkins, but Nick's “mind was starting to work” (985). This is immediately followed by the notion of being able to “choke it because he was tired enough” (985), which shows that he does not want to think. Nick avoids further thought by going to bed. When morning comes, once more, the first thing he does is survey the land noting location and movement. For example, he sees where the grasshoppers are and how they behave, and uses this information to create a plan for the best way to hunt them. He meticulously prepares his food for the day before cleaning his campsite and leaving to go fishing. Despite this relaxing environment, Nick constantly works to keeps tight control over himself and his surroundings. As he is fishing, Nick first catches a fish that is too small, so he throws it back. He makes sure to wet his hands before touching the fish so that he does not hurt them. This is an important part of catch and release because every fish is important to reproduction in the ecosystem. (Paetz) His concern for the harmony of nature and disapproval of those without the same regard is a result of his desire to be in balance with nature. He might alter the land for his campsite and eat fish from the river, but he respects the land and does not want to ruin nature. In his second catch of the day, there is a struggle while trying to reel in the fish and his temporary loss of control results in him feeling “a little sick” (989) and he has to sit down. The way that he is quick to such excitement shows that something is not quite right. However, whether this reminds past struggles or of fishing with Hopkins is unclear. Nick eventually makes his way to the swap, but upon looking at it, he is suddenly seized with a desire to not go any further. The phrase “did not want to” (992) is repeated four times in one paragraph. There is no reason for him to feel pressured into going into the swamp, so the level of protestation is not natural. What can the swamp represent to him? It may be that the swamp triggers a memory of his time in war, or it may symbolize something deeper. He began this story in a place of human dominance and destruction, immediately endeavoring to move beyond it. Moving along the river there is a sense of balance between himself and nature, but ultimately he is still in control. He sets out with a specific camp in mind and to be set up in a certain way. This reflects the control he tries to hold on everything, even on his own mind, preventing himself from thinking too freely by concentrating on each task at hand. The swamp, with its low hanging tangle of branches, is a place that nature has control, not him. Nick is not ready to relinquish this control, so he turns back. It is important to see its message as a stand-alone story before considering the background of the author and related stories. Many of the story's references and wording choices, when taken separately, have various interpretations or reasons. However, when they are all taken into consideration, it develops into a story about a man who has served in the war, suffered from the trauma of war, and is now trying to move beyond it. Looking beyond the boundaries of the story supports this idea. This story is part of a series of short stories about Nick Adams that are loosely based on Hemingway's own life, including his involvement in the war. In one of these stories, “Now I Lay Me,” Nick Adams is suffering from a war related injury and uses his thoughts of fishing as a comfort. (“Now I Lay Me” ) Without knowing more about Nick's past, it is still clear that he has experienced trauma during the war. He has left behind the destructive thoughts that came with those experiences, just as he left behind the burnt out town of Seney, Michigan. There is still a struggle under the surface that bubbles up now and again, but like his campsite, he keeps himself and his thoughts squared away. He is not ready for the disorder and lack of control that the swamp represents, but maybe when he is ready for that, he will be free of the thoughts that haunted him and brought him there.