Now let us analyze how Hemingway uses the four prose systems. In this extract, Hemingway does deliberately leave out any commentary parts; perhaps due to the structure of the story, comments from the author would be expendable. It would also limit the realism of the story, the sense that the characters themselves are leading the story. For the same reason, description is only used sporadically; in fact the one line is used to show the appearance of their bags, this due to their importance as symbols. The two lines of narration bring the story onward, leading us to the scenes which Hemingway wants us to see. He deliberately guides us to a position where we can overhear their conversation.
From the first line of narration in this short piece, we are introduced to the Hemingway’s supreme sense for symbols and metaphors. The woman is silently watching the distant hills, not her companion. It shows us that she has a desire to be somewhere else, in another situation; and that a tension has erupted between her and the man. “On the dry side of the valley” suggests her fruitless relationship with the man. The man on the other hand, is intent on the situation at hand; he is studying her, and watching the table. In my understanding, it is not without reason that Hemingway included that one piece of furniture. The table can be said as an obstacle between them, a problem that must be overcome. The silence can be served as a symbol too; the readers are getting expectant, eager to see which one of the characters will speak first, as this will tell us more of them. Though the silence only lasts until the end of the sentence, it feels ominous. Towards the end of the extract, the man looks away from his companion, his eyes seeking the comfort of their bags; their packed possessions. In them he sees the life they have lead so far; a life full of excitement and adventures. He feels cornered with a responsibility he does not seek. But in a fashion, he is also looking into the future, wondering where to go next.
Through the last line, the only description used, Hemingway has chosen to give us a better view of their bags with many labels on them. He shows us that the couple has been to many places, lived through many adventures. In a fashion, they are urban nomads, always on the move, seeking further excitement. By describing the man looking at the bags, which are full of labels, it tells us that the man is reluctant to settle down due to this new situation.
The weight of the story, however, lies with the dialogue. Excluding fancy words and unnecessary adornments, Hemingway brings out the personality of each character by using a simple, easy to understand language. Rather than bringing out the story plot through narration or description, he lets the characters to speak for themselves. He deliberately uses repetition to enhance the effects of the points he’s making. Though it’s not openly mentioned, the operation mentioned in the story is so cunningly hinted at that the reader can guess it. It also adds a sense of realism; the reluctance to mention a sensitive concept.
To us, Hemingway makes the male character come across as selfish and insensitive merely by the way he’s expressing himself. With the lines “Of course it does. But I don't want anybody but you. I don't want anyone else. And I know it's perfectly simple.” and “It’s all right for you to say that, but I do know it.” He kept on emphasizing how simple the operation will be. The word “perfectly” act as an intensifier to stress on how simple and easy the operation will be. It shows that his manner is repetitive and persuasive rather than caring and affectionate. With such simple dialogue, Hemingway has made the male character come across as unlikable by the readers.
As for Jig, the female character, she is seen as naïve, insecure, and worried about the future, she does not want to have an abortion nor talking about it. “Doesn't it mean anything to you? We could get along.” Her sense of naivety can be read from the lines above. Her innocent thought of that the man will be more than happy to take up the responsibility of her pregnancy. The use of “could” implies that she no longer expect their relationship going any further. The “could” has made things become impossible. Moreover, through her cynicism, “Yes, you know it's perfectly simple.” We come to think of her as disappointed and got extremely annoyed with the man, but also full of self-pity. By the end of the extract, Hemingway seems to picture her as torn between many neighboring emotions; she was asking the man if he can do her a favor in a very polite way, but then she has shown her extreme annoyance by her repetition of the word “please”, her mood swings from one end to another in all of a sudden. This indicates that the man has reached her limit of her tolerance.
To conclude, Hemingway used a special writing style to tell his stories. He has chosen to tell the story in a direct, uncomplicated way. The vocabulary of the text is simple and understandable which makes it accessible to more people. Without using much figurative language, the simple structure of the story gives us a sense of straight-forwardness, which is rarely seen in literature. Though the language is simple, Hemingway has still managed to include a lot of hidden meanings. In the right order, even a few simple words can create an illusion.
