Big Two-Hearted River Hemingway Analysis
In 1925 Ernst Hemingway wrote “Big Two-Hearted River” a short story that depicts a young man, Nick Adams who has returned from World War I, dealing with the mental trauma caused by the war. Nick seeks to find what made him happy and normal before the war which was simplicity. The first place Nick heads to a place that brings him happiness and solace is the river. The story is filled with several symbols and objects that indicate he’s just on a routine camping trip, however, these objects are symbols of his psychological trauma suffered from mental wounds of the war. “Big Two-Hearted River may appear to be a short story of a fishing trip, but, entails much more about Nick Adams finding his identify that he lost in the war, seeking to find a
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“Still, it was too heavy. / It was much too heavy” (Hemingway, 164). Even though he is happy, this is a subtle reminder of mental wounds and the emotional burden he is still carrying with him. Although, he can unload his pack, his burden remains next to him. Nick moves along and takes a break sits back, leans against a charred stump and smokes a cigarette. As he sits there smoking overlooking the country reflects, “He did not need to get his map out. He knew where he was from the position of the river” (Hemingway, 164). This indicating that he was getting his familiarity with himself; he was getting comfortable in his settings. As he sat there a grasshopper climbed onto his socks. “The grasshopper was black. / They were all black” (Hemingway, 164). He realizes they‘re all black from the soot. “He wondered how long they stay that way. The grasshoppers were a symbol of his thoughts. Much like him the grasshopper had gone thought a traumatic event. This points out his internal struggle and represents his thoughts. How long would it take for the grasshopper to return to normal, how long it would be before he returned to normal? If the grasshopper could return to normal color, he could return to as he was before the war. Nick continues downstream finally makes camp and settles in for the
“Still, it was too heavy. / It was much too heavy” (Hemingway, 164). Even though he is happy, this is a subtle reminder of mental wounds and the emotional burden he is still carrying with him. Although, he can unload his pack, his burden remains next to him. Nick moves along and takes a break sits back, leans against a charred stump and smokes a cigarette. As he sits there smoking overlooking the country reflects, “He did not need to get his map out. He knew where he was from the position of the river” (Hemingway, 164). This indicating that he was getting his familiarity with himself; he was getting comfortable in his settings. As he sat there a grasshopper climbed onto his socks. “The grasshopper was black. / They were all black” (Hemingway, 164). He realizes they‘re all black from the soot. “He wondered how long they stay that way. The grasshoppers were a symbol of his thoughts. Much like him the grasshopper had gone thought a traumatic event. This points out his internal struggle and represents his thoughts. How long would it take for the grasshopper to return to normal, how long it would be before he returned to normal? If the grasshopper could return to normal color, he could return to as he was before the war. Nick continues downstream finally makes camp and settles in for the