Summary Of Ernest Hemingway's Big Two-Hearted River Part 1

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Warfare and fire share a similar outcome related to death and destruction. Ernest Hemingway wrote “Big Two-Hearted River: Part 1”, with the protagonist Nick Adams on a hiking excursion along a tributary leading to Lake Superior. Once Nick comprehends that he is unable to forget his violent past in war, he must change his disposition on life and start a full body transformation similar to the nature around him. Even though devastation and death are prominent in “Big Two-Hearted River: Part 1”, Hemingway conveys a theme of hope and recovery from the suffering. Hemingway progressively introduced the necessity of destruction for the rebirth of something new and improved. When forest fires occur, they leave behind a trail of ash and soot throughout …show more content…

As depicted in the Christian Bible, both fish and bird alike are used to metaphorically describe the Triune God. According to the Gospels, Jesus of Nazareth was baptized in the Jordan River and, meanwhile, God the Father sent forth the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Nick Adams, to some extent, is likewise being baptized to cleanse himself of the old past which burdens him and will be redeemed into a life of hope and happiness. The trout are also comparable to the Greek symbol Ichthys which translates to “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”. As a result, Hemingway used the natural setting to correspond to Nick’s past, present, and future …show more content…

The isolation of Nick from society is contrary to the path a companion took. As the excursion went on alongside the waterway, Nick recalled his old friend, Hopkins, who made plans to return for a fishing voyage on a private yacht. However, Hopkins left to conform to society by undertaking a role depicted through money and wealth. Through this recollection, Nick begins to understand that he, as well, left his home for the glory of war which almost cost him his life. By bringing back past memories of jovial times, Nick is enlightened to partake in the restoration of his old self where regrets are lost while redemption is gained. There is a sense of hope for Nick as he tries to pick up where he left off prior to the skirmishes of war. Due to this, he is able to take a journey through death into a land full of beauty. Nick was once a lost sheep traveling through the destruction of hell in order to reach the hopeful promised land of his

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