Death and Violence in Hemingway’s Novels

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the concept of death and violence in Ernest Hemingway’s works. It is a thematic analytical study which attempts to identify essential features of the writer’s literary activity and to explain why the above coupled with the essential messages on the concept of death and violence, which are portrayed in Hemingway’s novels, is some of the reasons why his works have been rendered classics of the American literature. The methods used are both descriptive and analytical. In the first part the descriptive method is followed, while in the second part the analytical method is adopted. Moreover, this research attempts to probe the general characteristics of modern American fiction, especially novel, and to what extent it has contributed to the world literature. It also portrays Hemingway's novels with their different styles, techniques, ideas and how far Hemingway was able to coin the theme of death and violence in his fictional works. To investigate the different aspects of narrative structure and character portrayal exemplified by Hemingway's novels: A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun Also Rises and The Old Man and Sea. To investigate the thematic representation of death and violence in Hemingway’s works. In addition the research tries to answer some questions, such as: How far Hemingway’s character portrayal and writing style are determined by the concept of violence and death? Does the choice of words and plot structure determined by the theme of death and violence? From the theoretical study and analyses of his works the research concludes that Hemingway is a distinguished writer whose narrative structure, character representation and writing style are uniquely bound by the concept of death and violence. Although there are a number of novelists reached a distinguished level in their literary career during and after the twentieth century, Ernest Hemingway is the most influential novelist who climbed the ladder of fame and reputation III without question, who presented the concept of death and violence throughout his literary career. Hemingway’s character portrayal and representation and the characteristics of his writing style are determined through the theme of death and violence. The choice of Hemingway’s words (diction) and plot structure (narration and chronology) determined by the theme of death and violence. Finally, the research recommends that, Hemingway’s novels to be studied in depth, especially by scholars of English literature and students as well. Moreover, in order to understand and appreciate the underlying ideas of Hemingway, it is important not to look at his works with a mere natural admiration for an individual who fights the good fight in a world of reality overshadowed by the concept of death and violence, but as a pivotal figure in literature . Because of his distinctive writing style and simplicity his works have to be taught in our institutions of higher education.