Analysis of Indian Camp Essay

As one of the greatest American authors ever, "He wins our assent, perhaps now more than ever. His emotions were prophetic, his antennae were out to the truth"(Bloom 201). These words, nonetheless, describe the great Ernest Hemingway. Born in 1899, Hemingway covered nearly every war by way of journalism, as well as fighting, until his passing in 1961. With this journalism came his signature journalistic style of writing to express feeling and emotions, such as in one of his well known short stories "Indian Camp". In many of his stories, as found in "Soldier's Home", this style may seem unimaginative and plain, but in reality it conveys true, genuine emotions. Ernest Heimingway provides realistic emotions through imagery, symbolism, and characterization in the stories "Indian Camp" and "Soldier's Home".

In the short story "Indian Camp", Ernest Hemingway presents realistic emotions through imagery, symbolism, and characterization. First, Hemingway shows realistic emotions through imagery. While heading to the camp, the narrorator explains, "They came around a bend and a dog came out barking. Ahead were the lights of the shanties where the Indian bark-peelers lived. More dogs rushed out at them. The two Indians sent them back to the shanties. In the shanty nearest the road there was a light in the window" (Hemingway, "Indian Camp" 1). By using imagery to describe the situation, he makes it easy to feel the intensity of the setting. Also, Hemingway demonstrates Nick's growing maturity as he defies his father's requests to witness and avoid two different explicit and emotionally painful situations (Robert 20). The use of imagery by Hemingway emphasizes the detail of Nick's conflicts to make them even more lifelike. Next, the use of symbolism provides realistic emtions in Hemingway's "Indian Camp". In the story the Indian husband's suicide resembles a symbol of unbearable pain (Hemingway, "Indian Camp", 4). The suicide relates to many accounts, some experiences of Hemingway himself, where an individual goes through great amounts of pain and suffering that they can no longer continue their lives. Also seen are the two extremes of life and death. Combined together they are symbols of Nick's first experiences with human suffering (Taylor 37). The symbols he exhibits, such as coming to terms with new life and tragic death, are something we all must endure from one time or another thoughout our lives. Lastly, characterization in the short story by Hemingway helps develop realistic emotions. For instance, Nick's father teaches him about the woman's birth and why she begins screaming (Hemingway, "Indian Camp" 2). The doctor takes the hard role of acting as a father and tries to explain to Nick about the woman's immense pain. Another example shows Nick's father explaining to him that the Indian husband killed himself because he let fear overtake him, therefore failing the test of manhood. This leads him to believe that he will never die (Robert 21). Because of Nick's immaturity, he misinterprets the situation, much as any child would, to the point where he believes he is invincible. Through critical articles, as well as the story itself, Hemingway's "Indian Camp" contains real emotions through imagery, symbols, and characterization.

Ernest Hemingway expresses realistic emotions in "Soldier's Home" through imagery, symbols, and characterization. To begin, imagery in the story helps show realistic emotions in the story. Hemingway repeatedly describes what all the girls wear and what Krebs, the main character, likes about them ("Soldier's Home" 147). Hemingway does this to show an example of someone's personal, distinct taste in the opposite sex, making the character and his traits seem even more real. Krebs displays his emotional battle between childhood and adulthood whenever his "mummy" caters to him and treats him like a child (Beegel 104). The feeling that relates to many in the stages between childhood and adulthood. Second, symbolism helps show true emotions in Hemingway's "Soldier's Home". Hemingway describes the day in the life of Krebs as being lonely and uneventful ("Soldier's Home" 146). As he gives a description of his normal day, boring and uninteresting, the author shows evidence that it may be due to his post-war alienation from the rest of his community. Conditions, such as this example, happen in real life as an effect of trauma or other personal issues. Krebs also escapes to the poolroom, a book, or a schoolyard in order to gain freedom from the community's mold and his mother's influence (Beegel 106). As the critic mentions, whenever Krebs reads or plays pool, it symbolizes his escape from the norm of society, something many people may turn to in order to gain some personal freedom. Finally, the use of characterization in the story gives the reader examples of realistic emotions. Following his return from war, "Krebs found that to be listened to at all he had to lie" (Hemingway, "Soldier's Home" 145). Since no one will listen he resorts to lying, hoping to spark people's interests, a realistic portrayal of someone who wants their story heard regardless of truth. In the short story, as well with other stories, Hemingway develops mothers as defenders of false values while fathers' fit depictions of being unreliable for their sons (Beegel 103). In the story, as well as in the critical article, the authors describe mothers as close and considerate, while fathers emerge as less personal and emotionally unyielding to their sons. This description, though questionable, definitely fits for many fathers of that time period, and even today. Furthermore, imagery, symbols, and characterization found in "Soldier's Home" give examples of realistic emotions.

Moreover, imagery, symbolism, and characterization in "Indian Camp" and "Soldier's Home", by Ernest Hemingway, provide realistic, lifelike emotions. These literary devices, combined with Hemingway's style allow the reader to connect with his stories. Because of this connection he makes with his readers, he is considerably one of the great authors in American literature. As one of his strong points, making the character in a story come alive and seem real surely persists as a goal for most authors today.