What Is Hemingway's Use Of Mental Control In Big Two-Hearted River

In his short story, “Big Two-Hearted River”, Ernest Hemingway focuses on the mental and emotional state of Nick, the protagonist, who “le[aves] everything behind” during a wilderness fishing trip. Traumatic thoughts and memories haunt Nick, but the cause of his inner turmoil is not disclosed in the story. Other short stories by Hemingway, however, reveal that Nick Adams is a wounded veteran who served in the First World War. To distract himself from these painful memories, Nick concentrates on the physical details of his journey such as making camp and preparing food. In addition to self-distraction, he attempts to inhibit his ability to think through hunger and physical exhaustion. By examining how Nick uses these techniques of mental control

During his journey, his desire for solitude is explicit: “Nick did not like to fish with other men on the river. Unless they were of your party, they spoiled it.” In his emotionally fragile state, Nick is ill-prepared to handle the “unpredictable variable” posed by fishing companions. Consequently, he chooses to travel alone into the wilderness, interacting only with characters from the natural world such as grasshoppers and trout. Through his decision to embark on a solo journey, he is able to place more control over the external environment which is a crucial element of his rehabilitation. Without the uncertainty of other men’s words and actions, Nick is once again able to gain further internal stability. Stewart, however, attributes a different reason for Nick’s preference for solitude, suggesting that “his mindfulness sets him apart from the careless fishermen who ‘spoil it’ for those who truly love the activity.” This conclusion is certainly valid, for Nick’s expression of dislike follows a memory of the irresponsible fishing practices that resulted in trout dying from white fungus. Nevertheless, Nick states that he is not bothered by the company of like-minded fishermen. If his primary concern was indeed the conscientiousness of his fishing companions, as opposed to their unpredictable nature, it is less likely that he would have made the decision to travel alone. Additionally, Nick’s ultimate goal for the fishing trip is not simply catching trout, but rather gaining internal stability and peace. Although he finds satisfaction in this activity, enjoyment alone is not a deciding factor in his choice to travel without other fishermen. Regardless of his reasoning, this decision is important as it provides him with a much-needed feeling of security and simplicity. As the only human character to directly appear in “Big Two-Hearted River”,