Examples Of Misogyny In Hemingway

Jordyn Granito
Mrs Fowler
American Modernism
26 April, 2018
Feminism or Misogyny? Hemingway tends to put a lot of himself in his work, basing his writing off of personal experiences. Another theme that seems to be present within his work, is the idea of gender struggle, so much so, that although, some look at it, as a piece of feminism, others may look at this piece as one of misogyny. With this being said, it is entirely possible that Hemingway, himself went through a extremely similar struggle in which he followed misogynist beliefs, especially due to his childhood. Due to childhood trauma, Hemingway, very much carries, misogynist beliefs, which show through symbols within his writing, as well as through his characterization. Woman have
came along way in the last decade, let alone the last century. Like others, woman have started off with nothing, but with a push, this has changed. In fact, feminism had taken a turn by the 1920’s. Woman had now gain political freedoms, but still struggled to gain social freedom, as the image of the way women should be did not change (“Wandering Minds”). They broke away from tradition, claiming that woman should be put into “separate spheres,” while also straying away from the typical maternal figure, that everyone expected them to be. Instead of staying at home, woman now took to nightlife, in order to better make a social name for themselves. However, today woman are still looked at, as the “weaker” of the sexes, and because of this, men are convinced that in order, to really be a man, they must act tough. This however, seemed to be something that Hemingway struggled with tremendously as a child, and because of this, developed misogynist views. Hemingway seemed to have a stupendous struggle when it came to family. Hating his mother, Grace-Hall Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway took more of a liking to his father, who even taught him to fish and hunt, a motif in this novel. Hemingway’s childhood was “spent largely in fighting the feminine influence of his mother while feeding off the influence of his father,” (“Ernest Hemingway Biography.”). Hemingway’s mother raised him as a girl, for a decent amount of time during his childhood. This can not only explain his hate for his mother but, his misgonomist viewpoints, as without feeding off of his father’s masculinity, it is possible, that Hemingway would not have been influenced by society at all. Thus Hemingway oftentimes uses his characters in this novel to symbolise the relationship that, he had with his mother and father, along with his idea of misogyny. One of the first insists that the reader sees Hemingway’s view of character roles, in general is in the first chapter titled “Indian Camp.” When Nick and the others find, that one of the indians has killed themselves.
As soon as this happens, George leaves unable to handle the sight, as Nick asks his father, “Where did Uncle George go?” (Hemingway 4). George, being unable to face a horrific situation, was never seen in the novel, again. Unlike, Nick and his father, based on this, George proves to not be able to handle, being face and face with danger, and thus, proves to not fit into the stereotypical ‘masculine’ guidelines. This contrasts greatly, with both Nick’s father who does not seem to be too affected by this, and Nick, who acts the strongest of the three, as he faces the situation with childlike wonder, stating that “ he felt quite sure that he would never die,“ (Hemingway 4). However, Nick also, focuses on the negative, rather than the positive. Identifying more with the male indian who just killed himself, rather than focusing on, the woman, who after being in a consider amount of pain, is able to bring life into the world. This seems to lean towards the idea of misogyny, as Nick only asks about the male indians. At this point in the novel, it begins evident that Hemingway, only keeps around characters, that he deems to be tough, as the strongest of the three, although he slips up sometimes, shows up the most, while the weakest, is done away with right
away. Much later in his life, the reader is able to see the relationship, that Nick tries to build with people, starting with the relationship, that he builds with his father in “The Doctor and The Doctor’s Wife.” Although it may seem very brief, it is proof of Nick building his relationship with his father, in order to be seen in a more masculine light.
On top of this, the fact that Nick, goes with his father at the end, is proof of gender roles in this time, as Nick’s father, has all the say over Nick, and ignores his wife’s request for Nick to come in. Later, the reader is also able to see Nick’s relationship with his love interest Marjorie. After they’re done fishing, which happens to be a symbol for feminism, Nick, acts as he is supposed to, based on the guidelines set before him before society, as he tells Marjorie, that she knows everything, in a rather, hateful way. This is due to the fact that Nick, not only, does not want to come to terms with Marjorie being an equal, but Nick feels as though Marjorie has been tying him down, much like Hemingway’s mother has done to him as a child, by saying “[he feels] as though everything was gone to hell inside of [him]” (Hemingway 8). Nick’s attitude quickly changes though, as he listens to what Bill has to say about
everything. After breaking it off with Marjorie, Nick talks with his friend, Bill about everything that is going on. In many ways this could be seen as just boys being boys, as they talk about everything from baseball to their fathers. However, when they start talking about relationships, the tone switches. While, Nick feels regretful about everything with Marjorie, Bill takes a different approach, as he says “Once a man’s married, he’s absolutely bitched...He hasn't got anything more. Nothing. Not a damn thing. He’s done for. You’ve seen the guys that get married,” (Hemingway 12). In a way, this could be another symbol for Hemingway and his parent’s at conflict. Hemingway’s father provided him with the masculine influence that Hemingway needed to be the writer he is today. In a way, this part of the story, could be a self-insert, with Bill, symbolizing, Hemingway’s father, leading Nick, or Hemingway, away from the feminine influence of Marjorie, or his mother. The next time, the reader see’s Nick, he is building masculine influences and looking away from feminine one’s. Soon Nick comes across, Ad’s and Bugs. Ad’s especially has suffered great hardships, due to their masculinity. First, being a fighter, which in fact, proves his masculinity to the world, and challenges Nick to be more masculine to, not only from knocking Ad’s out but also through conversation, “All kids are tough...You got to be tough,” (Hemingway 15). Even after the fame became too much for him, Ad’s still picks fights, despite being to jail, and challenges Nick, to knock him out, thus building his masculinity, as he is trying to find himself because he is still pretty young. Later, Nick is seen after he has grown up and is supposedly mature. The next time, the reader is introduced to Nick, he has changed quite significantly. No longer, unsure of himself due to his childhood, he still longs to be around male friends. Nick thinks, much about Helen, a woman who can be viewed as restricting his freedom, much like his mother did. Due to the fact that Helen is having his baby, he no longer is able to do the things he wants to do, and is instead restricted to family life. This idea can be symbolized through Nick’s inability to control himself skiing, as he no longer has control over his own life, “Then a patch of soft snow, left in a hollow by the wind, spilled him and he went over and over in a clashing of skis,” (Hemingway 32). The boys realise that this will be their last time to truly hang out together, as their lives become more restricting, due to female influence and although, this is the last time the reader sees them together, it is not the last time this idea pop’s up. Looking at stories in the novel, that do not focus on Nick, the reader still see’s an abundance of examples. Perhaps, the most similar to Nick, Krebs has a rather interesting, yet unusual take on females. Although, longing for a relationship and someone to be close to, Krebs “He did not want to get into the intrigue and the politics. He did not want to have to do any courting. He did not want to tell any more lies. It wasn't worth it,” (Hemingway 21). Be thinking this, Krebs implies that he does not want a real relationship, but one without any sort of connection. Kreb’s thus, views woman in a way that puts a stereotypes on both, woman and the way marriages used to be. This paints the picture of woman being more like things and marriage as a bond to show off status, rather than woman as people or marriage as a love connection. Although, not much can be said about Krebs there is many other examples that can support this argument that him and Nick, have both brought to the table. “The Cat in the Rain” paints a little bit on contrast with the novel, because it highlights more on the way woman, should really be treated. At the start of the story, the woman witnesses a cat, that had been left out in the rain. Much like herself in her relationship with her husband, the cat is probably miserable as it is shoved away and left out in the cold. However, soon the woman, within this chapter, meets someone different who treats her how she should be treated, and even goes as far as to get the cat for her. Now being, warm, accepted, and sheltered from the rain, the cat is content, much like the woman is with the man that treats her right. This story can be compared with the others because it does not paint woman in an evil light, but rather the men in an evil light. Men spend the whole novel, talking about how women are the source of evil in marriage and will take over the men’s life, but rather this chapter shows, that this is not the case and men are really the ones suppressing woman and viewing them more as objects that actual people. This story is perhaps the most impactful in the novel, and one of the last times, the reader sees anything to do with gender roles. Many masculine symbols, along with talk of fatherhood and self inserts for Hemingway, tend to appear in the novel, “In our Time.” Hemingway, although having some falling outs with his father, took to him more, due to his mother, treating him like a girl. This is why, all the characters seem to fit into their gender roles of masculinity. Hemingway, although using some feminism imagery, tends to lean away from that for the sole reason that he, himself, was treated like a girl. This would not only strengthen the relationship between Hemingway and his father but pose conflict within him, which has been translated to Nick. Nick is without a doubt, struggling with something in his life at all time, including what gender role he plays, when it comes to both, himself and society. Throughout the novel, Nick and, even some other characters, are constantly challenged with what society is expecting of them. The gender guidelines that have been set before them, are very clear cut and dry, however some seem to challenge that, while others stick to the role, that they have been given. Although Hemingway’s writing may not be clear to read at first, however, when looking closer, it reveals an abundance of things. One of these things, is his childhood struggle to find who he is, along with the constant theme of masculinity and gender roles. Without this struggle or theme, Hemingway would not be who is, and with that the world would not be able to witness what he had to bring to the world of literature.