Ernest Hemingway led an extraordinary life filled with women, adventure, and war. It is hard to believe that one man could accomplish all that he had, especially since his life was cut short by suicide. Here are some highlights of Hemingway’s life by numbers:
· 5 siblings
· 4 marriages plus one elaborate love affair when he was 18
· 3 wars
· 2 car crashes, 2 plane crashes, plus injuries from the wars
· 1928 – Hemingway’s father killed himself
After having read many of Hemingway’s short stories this semester, it’s amazing to see how much he paralleled his life in his writing.
“His writing was his way of coping with life - to exorcise his ghosts, to achieve fame and glory and yet he also had a natural talent. What came first, his writing or his adventures? What was most important to him? To fulfill his mother's wishes or his father's?”
I think Hemingway faced constant internal conflict due to failed marriages, his father’s suicide, and the injuries he sustained; all of these things certainly provided him with inspiration for his writings but it never gave him any peace in his life. He constantly felt guilty for ruining yet another promising relationship by his affairs yet he never seemed to learn his lesson or try to stop “falling in love” with every woman he meets. He also continued to put himself in violent situations and he would without fail end up injured which would only leave him depressed as he endured the healing process. Truly it’s amazing though how he survived so many near death experiences. Through all of Hemingway’s incredible worldly adventures and romantic love affairs, I believe that from interpreting the complexity of his work and reading his biography that he led a very sad and tortured life.
Sometimes it seems that Hemingway only wrote because he had discovered his natural talent and needed some kind of activity to help fund his elaborate stints all over the world. He most likely enjoyed the fame and opportunities it gave him but I think he enjoyed finding new love affairs and adventure more. On the other had though, possibly he sought women and adventure to constantly facilitate themes and ideas for his writing. It leaves the question from before still hanging in the air: “What came first, his writing or his adventures? What was most important to him?”
Overall his life seems rather romantic and seemingly fulfilling but I think Hemingway had deeper conflicts going on that kept him from being happy and making mature decisions. His writing is interesting and artful though and he has certainly made a profound impact in the literary world.
“Hemingway did not know what he wanted. He wanted everything and nothing.”
Quotes and information from:
"Ernest Hemingway"
1999-2006 Caroline Hulse
1999-2006 Caroline Hulse
www.ernest.hemingway.com
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