Hemmingway's Code

I had never read any of Hemmingway’s writing’s before this week.  A lot of the reading I did this week really felt like work to me, but not while I was reading “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macromber” by Ernest Hemmingway.  I found myself really enjoying reading the story.

                I did not realize it until I read the instructions for this assignment, that I believe my enjoying this story was due to Hemmingway’s code. The way Hemmingway manages to keep me unsure of how I feel about each of the characters grabs my attention and keeps me reading to find out who the hero is and who the villain is.  When I figure out who is who in a story I quickly lose interest.  Hemmingway seems to be very good at keeping me guessing throughout the story.

                                Hemmingway’s code reminds me a lot of Aristotle’s definition of the ideal man.  Aristotle expresses his opinion of what an ideal man consist of in his thesis on ethics.  Hemmingway’s code also makes me think of legendary actors like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.   The movies you see these actors in usually reflect a similar code.  They usually start their movies out in a place of dishonor and spend the rest of the movie restoring there honor no matter what the cost.

                I feel that I have been introduced to a very interesting writer and plan to read more of Hemmingway’s writing in the near future.  Just as soon as I can find some spare time.

                                                                                                                Thank You Jeremy