He Wrote the Shortest Story Ever
Ernest Hemingway once said, “The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water”, meaning for anything to have significant value, there must be more beneath the surface. In his writing, he applied a tactic that followed this standard of writing. He encouraged readers to have to work for an understanding more in-depth than just the plot on the surface. This methodical approach shows his appreciation for such profound thought. Some of you may be searching for stories that have something grander beneath the surface of a simple plot. To you, I say, stay tuned, there’s more coming. If not, don’t bother spending your time here. Have a nice day.
Being an inexperienced short story enthusiast myself, diving into Hemingway’s work was quite discouraging. In his short story “Hills Like White Elephants”, he writes with a stripped-back manner, almost leaving the reader with the task of filling in the narrative themselves. What Hemingway gives the reader is simply the dialogue and scenery of a man and a girl at a train station. Like what? It’s both disappointing and annoying at first.
How could these stories reflect one of the best short story writers of all time? My utter ignorance prompted me to buckle down and commit to reading more deeply. What I found was, with determination and a passion for reading, diligent readers can understand why Hemingway wrote the way he did and truly enjoy his beautiful pieces.
Take, for instance, the title of this review. Hemingway wrote a story with only 6 words. The shortest story ever told, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” Strange, right? Yet, when your mind wanders, it will fill in the narrative as if you wrote it yourself. I took the story as if a foster family lost a child they were hoping to adopt. What will you come up with?
Now, with a more in-depth analysis of “Hills Like White Elephants”, the strange plot does convey a meaningful message. On the surface, it’s just a conversation, an argument to be more precise, between a man and a girl. With many context clues such as, “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it,” we, as readers, can infer that the girl is having an operation done. And, supposedly, the girl thinks to herself, “if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?”. With Hemingway’s tactic of leaving the reader with little information, this story gets a little tricky. Yet, when examined closer, we can see symbolism intertwined throughout the story. Take the scenery, a train station. Think of coming to a crossroads and having to make an important decision. Get it? The train station (the crossroads), the man and girl (important decision). Yeah, it’s pretty cool. That barely scratches the surface of the remaining symbols packed within. Yet, play the detective role yourself, find the rest and you will be rewarded.
Just as confusing, Hemingway wrote “In Another Country” in 1927. While this too had a wild plot that didn’t seem sensible, when examined, something emerges for readers; an emotion rarely seen and a passion for the heart of the wounded. Now, it’s simply a story of soldiers recovering from war. Yet, upon closer examination, we will find that the main characters seemed to have lost their emotions. Letting their wounds define them, they felt that they had no more feelings toward life Yet, when a major crisis near the end (I won’t spoil it) occurs, the heart of a few men is shown. For instance, in writing, “And then crying, his head up looking at nothing, carrying himself straight and soldierly, with tears on both cheeks and biting his lips,” Hemingway is alluding to the fact that no matter the wounds and scars we have, we still can feel and experience emotion. Even those who must put on a tough face when approaching battle. Finding just this connection left me and hopefully will leave you thinking; what else could I notice and learn from in this story?
The iceberg is seen once again in Hemingway’s “Indian Camp”. An elementary-aged schoolboy named Nick and his father are aiding an Indian woman giving birth via C-section. When we read, “You see, Nick, babies are supposed to be born head first, but sometimes they’re not”, we witness Nick having to deal with a situation, as a young boy, that was more than most adults’ stomachs could handle. Bringing a young kid like Nick to such an event is bound to produce heartfelt conversations between father and son and profound thoughts for readers. This story had my mind spinning and I urge you to take a stab and see what you can decipher beneath the plot as well.
Finally, in 1933, Hemingway uses specific descriptions of scenery and deep character development to his advantage in a beautifully written, heartwarming story. “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” follows the formula of a plot, matched with a less explicitly stated message. This story truly is lighter and less dark than the others, as it refers to the trouble an annoyed waiter faces as the night gets old and an elderly man wants to stay in the cafe because, according to the more compassionate bartender, “This is a clean and pleasant cafe. It is well lighted. The light is very good”. As Hemingway portrays the old man throughout the story, it wrenches the heartstrings. Its simplistic and mundane charm is sure to make you swim down and see the rest of the iceberg.
Whether he is writing a dark and twisted plot, or lightening things up, there is no doubt that Hemingway will make readers work for it. But if anyone has the desire to reach below the surface level and find something hidden and contemplative, picking up a Hemingway short story would be the right move.
