Symbolism In Big Two-Hearted River By Ernest Hemingway
Eric Vianney Sol Cruz
Prof. Caroline Coleman
ENG 220
June 4, 2023
Symbolism Within “Big Two-Hearted River” “Big Two-Hearted River” by Ernest Hemingway is about a man, Nick, who just wants to fish within the town of Seney. Below the surface, however, Hemingway inserts symbols that reflect Nick’s altered state of mind. This state stems from the tragedies he had to face during war. Hemingway’s symbols of the town, grasshoppers, river, need for simplicity, and swamp all connect to an overarching theme of recovery from war. The first symbol the Hemingway presents is the burnt down town of Seney and its harsh reminder of the war Nick so desperately wants to escape. As Nick steps down from the baggage car, Seney presents itself as a town filled
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Searching for a simpler life, Nick’s methodicalness symbolizes his urge to leave behind his complicated past and drown it in simplicity. As Nick awakes beside the river, he becomes excited to fish. Nick is “really too hurried to eat breakfast, but he knew he must” (Hemingway 188). Perhaps, Nick’s discipline to his routine will give him a sense of balance after coming from a tragic war. He finds joy in simplicity. This is apparent within Hemingway’s writing as well. After setting up camp, Hemingway’s “short declarative sentences [echo] … Nick’s … continued need for simplicity and … drive home Nick’s self-created domestic ease” (Cirino 120). Simplicity is what keeps Nick from unraveling his road to recovery, and he is willing to drown all he does with it. He answers the river’s offer for renewal with this methodology. And when this simplicity is challenged, Nick is forced to face his fear of losing control. Upon losing the first big trout, Nick “felt, vaguely, a little sick” (Hemingway 193). Unable to fully control the environment around him, Nick feels that his simplicity has been challenged. Recovery is not linear and Nick, seemingly, is sick at the thought of it. He cannot always win the “struggle for control of his thoughts and emotions” (Green 311). Yet, he stands and continues on to try to catch another trout. Clearly, Nick is unwilling to stray from his recovery …show more content…
Alongside analyzing Nick’s choices within the short story, it also analyzes Hemingway’s writing and its effects on how Nick’s psyche is being reflected within the story.
Lamb, Robert Paul. “FISHING FOR STORIES: WHAT ‘BIG TWO-HEARTED RIVER’ IS REALLY ABOUT.” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 37, no. 2, 1991, pp. 161–81, https://doi.org/10.1353/mfs.0.0322. The article aims to connect Nick’s story to Hemingway’s own personal story. It provides insight towards his writing direction and how his life affected the writing of the story. This insight towards Hemingway’s writing also provides a small peek at how the writing affects Nick throughout the story. Green, James L. “SYMBOLIC SENTENCES IN ‘BIG TWO-HEARTED RIVER.’” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 14, no. 3, 1968, pp. 307–12. The article aims to analyze the symbolism within the short story and how it reflects changes within our main character. The article provides insight to the various symbols of the story and in what ways they reflect Nick’s state of mind. Green analyzes Hemingway’s writing and tries to make sense of Nick’s motives for what he does throughout the
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