Hemingway, in Our Time \"In

Hemingway, In Our Time

"in Our Time"

Ernest Hemingway's first notable book and practically the reason for which he became renowned in the world of literature is "In Our Time." The collection of stories in the book is based on the writer's experiences during the war and on his understanding of the concept. In spite of the fact that numerous readers are inclined to consider that the stories in "In Our Time" should be treated separately, the way that Hemingway has most of the action revolve around the character of Nick Adams makes it possible for the manuscript to resemble an actual novel. Adams' perspective in regard to warfare and the character in general is most probably reflects Hemingway himself, given that many events in the book happened in real life and had the writer as a protagonist.

The character of Nick Adams evolves as the storyline advances and is significantly changed as a result of his involvement in the First World War. Nick's transformation from an naive individual who considers that there is nothing more to war than glory, excitement, and patriotism toward his country to an injured veteran that has difficulties readapting to society's needs is impressive. Although it is difficult to consider Adams to be Hemingway's autobiographical character, it is very probable for most of the episodes presenting this individual to have been inspired from the writer's life. In addition to representing Hemingway, Adams stands as a hallmark for men during the war, with the author most probably having involved a series of elements that he came across during the conflict in this particular character.

In spite of apparently exposing himself and his emotions to readers throughout the book, Nick, similar to Hemingway, does not provide people with a great deal of information about who he really is. The fact that he virtually characterizes himself does not contribute to readers' understanding of his character, as it actually serves as a tool to make individuals even more confused in regard to his personality. It is certainly difficult to determine in Hemingway actually wanted Adams to be a mirror image of who he was or if he wanted the character to reveal his experiences and his feelings from the war period.

Nick Adams does not necessarily have to be considered to be Hemingway's attempt to show the world who he is, as it would be more natural for people to understand Nick as the writer's idea of a perfect individual, even if the character has several visible flaws. Adams constantly tries to compensate for the situations when he feels that his power is put to test by getting in control and putting across his superior influence. Although the author is well aware of the human condition and of the fact that death is inevitable, he makes it possible for Nick to be less vulnerable to being a human by expressing the character's certainty regarding how it will never die. The war, however, emphasizes the importance and the fragility of life, making it obvious for Nick that he is no different from the rest and that it is only a matter of time before that happens.