The difference between Al and Max as characters is that Max seems more relaxed and at ease about the situation. Max makes more of a show by talking to George and teasing him by calling him “pretty boy.” He also gives off some vibes of being homosexual, because in a conversation with George he says “He’s a nice boy. I like him.” This could also be another method of intimidation, he is undermining the manhood of the victim.
Al’s character is a bit less relaxed and I think he might just want the job to be over and done with. I think that Al might be more experienced with this kind of situation because he doesn’t talk with George and Nick the way that Max does. He criticises Max and says things like “I don’t like it. It’s sloppy. You talk too much.” He also ties up Nick and Sam rather than talk to them.
A lot of suggestion of homosexuality is played on in this story, on the part of both Al and Max and George and Nick. The use of homosexuality is mostly used as a method of intimidation or to put each other down. This could be because being homosexual is an insult to some men because of the idea of being feminine which is not something men like to be seen as being. It also might be because this story is set in the 1920’s when homosexuality wasn’t as common as it is now and wasn’t openly declared, so it was more of an insult. Hemmingway’s use of homosexuality also leaves you wondering the sexual preferences of Max and Al. They both use homosexuality as an insult which could mean that they are trying to hide that they are homosexual themselves.
In this story Hemingway uses the word nigger to describe the character of Sam. But this does not mean that Hemingway is racist; it is just the way that people would have reacted toward someone of that colour in that particular era. The way that Al and Max react toward Sam is more racist than George’s use of the word nigger to describe Sam. They say “what would we want with a nigger?” to mean that he is so irrelevant that they don’t even want anything to do with him. George tries to protect Sam in a way by saying “Where do you think you are?” and “What are you going to do to him?”
The character of Sam is very nervous and I think he just wants to be left alone. I think he might be used to this and just wants to be left alone. He also doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt either as he says “Mixing up in this won’t get you anywhere. You stay out of it” to Nick
The sense of time and placed is established by Al and Max being unable to get any alcohol to drink which is what happened in the 1920’s. The use of the word nigger also gives suggestions that it was in the 20’s because that word is not used in that context as much as it used to, meaning that when it is used now it’s more associated with black people talking to other black people. You can tell it’s in America because of the use of language such as “dumb”, meaning stupid, “catsup” and the frequent use of the words “hell” and “damn” which are all commonly associated with Americans.
The use of language in this story is very plain and gives very little description. The plain use of language could be to give a certain atmosphere. I think the story is supposed to be very dark and realistic and the very plain language gives this effect. I think the lack of description could be so that the reader can put in their own description. It also makes the story a bit eerie because it gives the feel that you don’t really know what’s going on. The language is also very easily understood. There are no words that are hard to understand, this also gives it a lot of realism, as if Hemingway speaks from experience. He makes it very believable.
The one big question raised by the story is why was Ole Andreson wanted and why didn’t he run. Ole was a boxer so the answer to the first question could be that he either lost a fight or won a fight against the instructions of the people who want him killed. George suggests that “He must have got mixed up with something in Chicago” and Nick says “He must have double-crossed somebody” but neither of them really know for sure. When Nick goes to see Ole, Ole says “I’m through with all that running around.” This could mean that this has happened before. These questions are never really answered so it is left to the reader what happens next. Another question might be who wanted Ole dead and sent “friends” to kill him. As this story involves gangsters it could be that the person who wanted Ole dead was some kind of gangster boss but that question is never answered and leaves you to speculate the answer.
This is a violent story because of the way Al and Max treat George, Nick and Sam. Although they are not physically violent but there are many examples of them being emotionally abusive. And there is a threat of violence through the whole story. They abuse George and Nick’s sexuality and make racist comments about Sam. It is also violent in the sense of what Al and Max were planning to do to Ole Andreson.
The ending of the story is very effective because it leaves you on a kind of cliff hanger. No one knows what happens to Ole and the question about why they wanted him dead is left unanswered. Also when Nick says “I’m going to get out of this town” it leaves you wondering about all the characters and what happen next. It also leaves you wondering what kind of town Summit is and if this happens often. It is left up to the reader to think about what will happen next.
