Ernest Hemingway is known as one of America's most prolific and influential writers of his time. Winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954 sealed his destiny and was the source of a great deal of pride in his accomplishments. His works included short stories, poems and novels, all with an propensity for terse, sparse terms and austere wording. Much of his war experiences; including loves and injuries are the basis for much of his writing.
Ernest Hemingway
There are a number of websites, books and articles on the life, experiences, and writings of Ernest Hemingway that depict the man as a womanizer, sometimes heavy drinker, and ultimately the tragic victim of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Though many of these sources attempt to shine different lights on Hemingway's life, most all agree that he was a prolific and profound writer of the written word.
Hemingway wrote in a myriad of ways including; short stories, novels, poetry and articles. He began his writing career as a journalist at the young age of 18. His first foray into the writing community was as a cub reporter for the Kansas City newspaper The Kansas City Star. Similar to the remainder of his life, he quickly became bored with covering local events, he yearned for much more. During his brief stint with the Star he covered the 15th Street Police Station, the Union Station and the General Hospital. According to one expert, "This meant he had to write about everything that went on in the Police Station, the train station and the hospital (Hulse, 2006), when his true objective was to be in on the action during World War I. Hemingway obtained that objective by becoming an ambulance driver in Europe, transporting the dead and wounded to area hospitals and clinics. He was 19 years-old and the year was 1918. After training for the position, he arrived in Europe and was quickly immersed in the action.
Ernest's predilection for the machinations of war was evident throughout his entire life. He loved being in the middle of all the action, and his numerous injuries (and resulting hospital stays and medical treatments) were evidence that he was also prone to mishaps -- some serious. In fact, two of his injuries were so serious that both times his demise was erroneously reported in the media.
His first injury took place as he drove the ambulance filled with supplies for some Italian Soldiers. Though injured by a projectile that exploded within a group of soldiers with whom he was conversing, he heroically carried another soldier to safety while at the same time coming under heavy machine gun fire. His resulting injuries landed him in a Red Cross hospital in Milan. It was while he was interred there that he first displayed his propensity for falling in love with beautiful women. The first real love of his life was a nurse that cared for his wounds in a mansion used for wounded soldiers in Milan, her name was Agnes. According to Hulse "it was his first adult love affair and he hurled himself into his emotions" (2006). It may have been his first true love, but it also set the course of his life in motion - at least regarding love affairs. Though she ultimately rejected his favors, he learned from her at a young age what it really meant to fall in love. He was also to use his experiences with Agnes as a fountain of material for his works.
His heart and courage often won him accolades and rewards, and many of his experiences (in war and in love) provided background and material for his writing. The novel The Sun Also Rises, and a book of short stories Men Without Women are excellent examples of his use of the written word to expound upon life's tragic stories of love(s) lost and wars won (or lost).
Hemingway was a prolific story teller and novelist. Many of his works focused on how men react to the loneliness of war, oftentimes with either drink, women or death. His father was also a primary influence in his life -- and his death. Both men ended their own lives, each with a gun. His father wanted for Ernest to be the rugged individualist, a hunter of beasts, and a fisher of fish.
His mother also presented her own subtle influences by ensuring that Ernest attended concerts and operas and that he visited art galleries and museums on a regular basis. As Hulse states, "both parents were strong and each had a total conviction and enthusiasm to teach Ernest their own ideals (and) of course, he and his five brothers and sisters were brought up in an intensely religious atmosphere" (2006).
You’re 80% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.