Similarities Between Kennedy And Ernest Hemingway

Wartime disillusionment gravely affected Hemingway and Salinger’s views on society, particularly religion. Before the war, both authors had similar views on religion. Salinger grew up Jewish and Hemingway became Catholic to please his wife, but after being in war religion became a slight abstraction to them. Salinger took comfort in religion after the war, yet he could never settle on one, switching religions numerous times. Often times Salinger would refer to religion in the form of religious slurs, as in “Chrissake” from “Pretty Mouth and Green Eyes”, but not to disparage religion. In moments of awe or wonder, Salinger’s common, possibly automatic, response was “Angels. For Chrissake. Angels.”, emulating the respect he has for a higher power. When words fail him, God, whichever kind, never did (52). Salinger played to the views of society in this way considering a large part of the commonwealth turned to God for answers. Whereas Hemingway became more of an Atheist appealing to the lost faith
Then he went over to one of the pieces of luggage, opened it, and from under a pile of shorts and undershirts, he took out an Ortgies caliber 7.65 automatic. He released the magazine, looked at it, then reinserted it. He cocked the piece. Then he went over and sat down on the unoccupied twin bed, looked at the girl, aimed the pistol, and fired a bullet through his right temple (9).
No warning, no foreshadowing, just death; which is how Salinger views society at this point. They were unprepared for a war and unsure as to how to proceed… they are lost. Salinger hopes to depict the aftermath of the war through the use of Seymour: a veteran, unable to cope with the realities of life so he ends it. Salinger and Hemingway left for war believing they were on a righteous path and came back much like the rest of the soldiers: disillusioned and searching for answers, while some found answers in God, some never actually