How Does Hemingway use Economy In

Josh Ruegger

How Does Hemingway use Economy In “The end of something”

Hemingway is renowned for his brief, simple and economical writing style. This is present in the story “The end of something”, but how does he achieve this and what effect does it have on the story.

Hemingway has an economical writing style, which is achieved through the repetition of words. An example of this is the use of the word “said” after any dialogue between Marjorie and Nick. This can seem quite juvenile in style, many authors would be more descriptive, but by repeating this simple and plain word Hemingway is commenting on the tediousness of their relationship. This is reinforced later when Nick remarks “it isn’t fun anymore”. When Nick talks to Bill later Hemingway drops the use of the word suggesting their relationship is more interesting. The use of the word “said” also conveys the lack of emotion between the couple.

Another way that Hemingway achieves economy is through sentence length. When describing nature and motion Hemingway uses long descriptive, interesting sentences with imagery, however when the subject is Nick and Marjorie’s relationship short, abrupt sentences are used. This could be seen as another way that Hemingway conveys the boring side of their relationship. The description is so detailed when they are fishing, “ ran the second line out the same way”, that it gives the impression that they are focused on their jobs in order to avoid having to focus on their failing relationship. There is short dialogue throughout the story between the couple, it often being no longer then 4 or 5 words. This also shows abruptness and hints at their unsuccessful relationship and the fact they have run out of things to talk about. Through these means Hemingway is hinting at the boring side of their relationship without directly commenting on it, which is economical.

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There are several lines and words in the story that have double meanings and it is for us the reader to interpret them. An example of this is the word “Lying” in the following sentence “’Yes’ Nick said lying, his face on the blanket”. Lying could mean one of two things, lying face down or not telling the truth. If we take the former meaning he could be lying because he doesn’t want to look at Bill because he feels guilty, if we take the latter then it suggests that Nick is embarrassed about his actions and doesn’t want to admit that he hurt Marjorie. The use of double entrées make the audience think more about there own perception and is also economical because it is using one word to convey two meanings. There is also a vagueness in the story where we the audience are meant to fill in the gaps. For example the relationship between Bill and Nick is not explained, are they just friends or is there an illusion to a homoerotic relationship? Making the audience an active reader is the one of the main functions of an economical style.

The metaphors in the story require an active reader to perceive them. An example of an extended metaphor in the story is fishing. In this metaphor, Nick is a fish, for whom biting would be deciding to marry. Marjorie is hopeful that the fish are feeding and will become attached to her line. But in “in The End of Something” nick is trying to tell her that the ‘fish’ are not interested in making a commitment to Marjorie, or biting on her line. This metaphor is reinforced later when Hemingway describes, “ the fire glinted on the reels.” when the couple are awkwardly moving toward the end of their relationship. Because the reels take the line back up when a fish does or does not strike, Hemingway is suggesting that Marjorie should wind her line back in, because Nick is not going to take her bait. This foreshadows what is going to happen at the end of the story and is economical because it uses the fishing to show the couple using work to avoid talking to each other directly, and also predicts the future of the story.

The title “The end of something” has two meanings and comments indirectly on two events in the story, the end of Horton’s bay as a prosperous market town, and the end of Nick and Marjorie’s relationship. Both endings are important because they mark the ending of old-fashioned ideas and concepts. Hemmingway comments on the removal of the machinery of the mill, “Carrying with it everything that made the mill a mill and made Horton’s Bay a town”. This is significant because in the ninetieth century towns were often built and designed around industries such as the mill but during the time that this story is set such enterprises were consolidated, and factories such as the mill were forced to close. People in the towns therefore needed to find new work and this brought small towns such as Horton’s bay, and its population such as Nick, into more modern times. This is similar to the end of Nick and Marjorie’s relationship as in the 1800s, the couple would have been married and there wouldn’t be any consideration of leaving each other. Nick’s actions in the story displays the characteristics of young men at this time becoming more restless and showing signs of not wanting to settle down with their first partner. In this way Hemingway has used an economical title and themes in the story not just to comment on the actions in Horton’s Bay but the whole of America at that time and because of this he has used Horton’s Bay as a microcosm for the change in society.

To conclude, Hemingway uses economy cleverly in the story “in The End of Something”. He manages to comment and allude to a lot without having to spell it out to the reader; in fact the subtle style increases the readers role in interpreting the story. He uses economical techniques such as metaphor and sentence length to suggests the doom of their relationship, and he foreshadows their break-up with the description of the town. He also manages to use economy to comment on America as a whole, and uses the people and setting of the story as a microcosm of society of post first world war USA.