Hemingway's major works

The Sun Also Rises or Fiesta (1926)

Setting

Paris, Madrid and Pamplona in the 1920s

Themes

Disillusionment, unesiness of reckless American expatriates in Paris

The shallow lifestyle of a group of American expatriates

Loneliness in a hard world

Powerlessness

Pain and betrayal

Relations between men and women

Antisemitism

plot

The Sun also rises or FiestaIt is the first major depiction of the brilliant and reckless lives of American expatriates in Paris in the 1920s.The society Hemingway portrays in this novel seems to lead an aimless life in the cafés and night clubs, drinking too much and having irresponsible love affairs as to forget the pain of living. In fact, the novel was said to depict the life and attitudes of the group of American expatriates called the 'Lost Generation' .The story which spans just a few weeks in the lives of the characters, is narrated by Jake Barnes, an American journalist in Paris who has been wounded in the war and has been left impotent. Jake is in love with Lady Brett Ashley and she with him, but their love cannot be consummated and they find it a torture to be together.Together with an odd group of friends they have various adventures in Paris, Madrid and Pamplona, characterized by too much drinking, violence and irresponsible sex.When Jake and his friends go to Spain for the fiesta and bull-fighting, competition for Brett erupts into a fight. The woman goes away with the young matador Pedro, but she leaves him a few days later 'not to ruin him', and goes back to Jake for help and comfort. So the novel ends where it began, with Jake and Brett still trapped in a hopeless love for each other.

Characters

Jake Barnes

Narrator and protagonist of the novel. An American journalist
in Paris wounded in the war and left impotent.

Lady Brett Ashley

Jake and Brett love each other but she is unwilling
to live a life of celibacy and engages in a series of
unfulfilling love affairs

Bill Gorton

Jake's friend, a war veteran who travels with Jake
from Paris to the south of France and then to Pamplona

Robert Cohn

A rich American writer living in Paris, he had no direct experience of the war and he is a Jew, he is in love with Brett but towards the end of the novel he realizes that his love is hopeless and leaves Pamplona

Mike Campbell

Brett's constantly drunk financee' and a war veteran

Pedro Romero

A handsome young bullfighter who fascinates Brett
Romero represents dignity, honesty purity and strength

In Hemingway's world women are often perceived as dangerous, complicated beings whose thoughts and behavior are not easily understood. An example is Brett. She seems to be the main reason for Jake's suffering, even if she is not completely conscious of it and is herself fighting a sense of void.She suffers from lack of emotional involvement and longs for Jake's impossible love.

Ramo principale

For Whom the Bell Tolls ( 1940)

Setting

Spain during the Spanish Civil war

Themes

War

Death

Love

Masculinity

Politics

Friendship

Main characters

Robert Jordan

An American volunteer fighting with the Spanish Republicans
in the Spanish Civil War. He represents Hemingway's hero.

Maria

A young woman in Pablo's guerrilla band, raped by Fascists, falls in love with Robert

Pablo

Leader of a group of anti- Fascists

Pilar

Pablo's wife, an old strong woman

Anselmo

Jordan's elderly guide

Plot

Sottoargomento

Creative Commons

CC BY SA

Argomento principale

A Farewell to Arms ( 1929)

Setting

North Italy, during WWI

Themes

War

Love

Masculinity

Main Characters

Lieutenant Frederic Henry

An American ambulance driver on the Italian front
during WWI.He is the narrator of the story, full of noble ideals when he joins the army, but war makes him doubt his belief in church, patriotism and love

Catherine

A nurse, met by Frederick at a Milan hospital.
They fall in love and escape to Switzerland together, but there she dies giving birth to their child who also dies

Argomento principale

The Old Man and the Sea (1952)

Setting

Cuba

Themes

Relationship man and the natural world

Isolation loneliness

Heroism Strength Pride

Friendship

Respect

Argomento principale

Characters

Santiago

An old Cuban fisherman, protagonist of the story,
who is considered unlucky because he has not caught a fish for eighty-four days, who undergoes a terrible struggle to catch one.

Manolin

Santiago's only friend who helps and supports
him, a boy who had previously learned the trade
in his boat

The Marlin

The big fish caught by Santiago, considered
with respect by the old fisherman

This story is set in Spain during the Spanish Civil war. The main character is Robert Jordan an American volunteer who fights with the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. He represents Hemingway’s hero. He travels behind enemy lines to work with Spanish guerrilla fighters, or guerrilleros, hiding in the mountains. The Republican command has assigned Robert Jordan the dangerous and difficult task of blowing up a Fascist-controlled bridge as part of a larger Republican offensive. Anselmo guides Robert Jordan to the guerrilla camp where he encounters Pablo, the leader of a group of anti- fascists (guerrilla fighters), Pilar an old strong woman who is Pablo’s wife, and then he also encounters a young woman named Maria, whom a band of Fascists raped not long before. Robert and Maria fell in love with each other. At the end of the story the guerrilla fighters are forced to cross the road in retreat, but unfortunately Robert and his horse are wounded by the fascists. Knowing that he must be left behind, he says goodbye to Maria, saying that he will be with her even if she goes. Pilar and Pablo lead Maria away. Alone, Robert Jordan contemplates suicide but resolves to stay alive to hold off the Fascists. For the first time, he feels “integrated,” in harmony with the world.