Literary analysis that examines Ernest Hemingway – “Two-Hearted River: Part I and Part II”
Disillusioned and emotionally wounded by the World War I, Nick Adams leaves the north Michigan woods to return to his home after a camping trip. He is alone on his return and has hopes that following a routine for selection of a good camping site, putting up a tent, preparing means and fishing will bring him some sense of peace and restore a balance to his soul already traumatized by the war (Carabine 39). As he goes to the woods, Nick goes past the ruins and gutters of burned town. It then transitions to a recount of preparation for fishing entailing rituals necessary before wadding into the river. On fishing the first two trout’s, he soon gains courage for conquering his fears in the days ahead of him. In part I of ‘Big Two-Hearted River’ Nick faces a series of trauma from post World War I experiences making him to be in need of peace and the recollections of his past leads to his conquering of the fears and emotions in part two of the story for a hopeful future.
The first part shown in part I is a focus on the journey through scenes. “There was no town, nothing but the rails and the burned-over country. . . . It was all that was left of the town of Seney” here Nick leaves his troubled life behind hoping for a new life (Hemingway 1-23). At the end of part I, Nick prepares to sleep in his tent concluding an important theme of recollection within the story. It is a point that creates a reconnection for Nick with nature as it invokes good memories of the past before the war in his mind. He manages to merge nature in life to the present moment moving beyond ill health and stress creatively. It provides him with a peaceful and quite break that transitions the initial theme before his entry into the fishing world in the river in part II. The fishing experience in part II starts with fear but soon there is transitioning to courage after the first successes by catching of trout’s. This is apart symbolic of the fears and uncertainties of Nick and his recovery from the trauma caused by the war with a hope for full recovery (Cirino115-140).
Nicks escapade and interaction with nature is for seeking its restorative powers for recuperation from the horrors of the World War. He needs recovery from his injuries and mental breakdown and he looks for means of putting his experiences behind and restoring his emotional health. In his trial for regaining his humanity and sanity, Nick feels that the only possibility is through isolation from people. The writer, therefore, symbolically uses the symbolism created by water and fishing to baptize Nick to a new life. This is a traditional Christian symbol and it is used to help Nick into gaining control of his life to a point that, he “felt happy. He felt he had left everything behind, the need for thinking, the need to write, other needs. It was all back of him” (Hemingway 1-23). The first part of the story deals with recovery while it develops into recollection in Part II. At the point when Nick realizes a difference in his life and decides to take a rest, he smoothens the ground, chops the stakes, pulls the tent hangs a cheese clothe at the front. These show his happiness knowing that he had reached a point where nothing could touch or stop him from being calm and relaxed amidst the pains of his life (Stewart 194).
He wakes up to start fishing in the river. The river is a thread that goes parallel to the memories and subconscious thoughts in the mind of Nick. He collects grasshoppers, which are distinct to those that were covered by hoot in part I. this triggers the possibility of a mundane situation calming down to the subconscious of Nick helping him to face his situation fearlessly and he confirms that by saying that, “It was a good feeling” (Hemingway 1-23). However, when tragedy strikes as he hooks a huge trout, there is the realization of the danger of over inclination to emotions. He lets go of the trout and the disappointing experience sickens him. That is normal because after the experiences in war, it is just natural to face a couple of loses as he trails through the river of recovery.
Soon there is progress into deeper waters to a dissecting point and he feels like reading. This shows his reaching a point of mental rejuvenation and an indication of his underway recovery. Venturing into swamp fishing is also significant in his recovery because just like the deep black waters of the swamp, it is the point at, which he faces the challenge of his deepest emotions. It is the point of his dipping into his dark subconscious and dealing with emotions of the wart and finding healing. This gives reader’s confidence in his determination for survival and recovery against the horrors of life.
Works cited
Carabine, Keith. “‘Big Two-Hearted River’: A Re-Interpretation.” Hemingway Review 1.2 (1982): 39. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.
Cirino, Mark. “Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River”: Nick’s Strategy And The Psychology Of Mental Control.” Papers On Language & Literature 47.2 (2011): 115-140. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.
Hemingway, Ernest, M D. Ryus, and Edward Rayher. Big Two-Hearted River. Portland, Me: Coyote Love Press/Romulus Editions. (2002): 1-23. Print.
Stewart, Jack F. “Christian Allusions In ‘Big Two-Hearted River’.” Studies In Short Fiction 15.2 (1978): 194. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.
