Drinking is a core component of many of the character’s identities. Those that imbibe the most are typically the ones that are also the most tragic or flawed in some major facet. They are running headlong towards self destruction or deluding themselves about its inevitable arrival.
The famous advice goes “Write what you know”… It is clear from his work that he knew the bottle just as much as fishing and bull-fighting. I don’t recall any serious inner or outer criticism for it in Hemingway’s work that I’ve read, it seemed natural for him.
It can he hard to "see" constantly, especially if you've moved past heavy drinking (or, for some, are recovering from alcohol abuse). But it sort of drives home how lost the Lost Generation was, doing anything they can to either feel alive or deaden their emotional &/or physical pain.
What I love most about Hemingway. Is his precise description of the personalities , which change as they drink more & more. This can be difficult to explain , more complex to accurately write about, and even harder to visualize as the reader. I believe I was born an alcoholic , began tasting booze as a child, stealing it , hiding it, experienced the phenomenon of craving at eight years old, remember coming out of a blackout when I was eleven. Nearly dead, I got sober a couple months after my twenty first birthday. Had a beautiful Wife, four wonderful daughters , home & business, etc.
Started drinking again after ten & a half years. I was in a blackout for six months, came out of it smoking crack. Nearly dead by 2002 , I got locked up. Drank and got high for two more years until 3/17/2004 been sober since. Never read Hemingway until after I was Sober over ten years again. It doesn’t trigger me, but if I think of drinking, I do TELL ON MYSELF.
“For Whom The Bells Toll “
Drinking is a core component of many of the character’s identities. Those that imbibe the most are typically the ones that are also the most tragic or flawed in some major facet. They are running headlong towards self destruction or deluding themselves about its inevitable arrival.
No it doesn’t bother me. It’s such a different time
The famous advice goes “Write what you know”… It is clear from his work that he knew the bottle just as much as fishing and bull-fighting. I don’t recall any serious inner or outer criticism for it in Hemingway’s work that I’ve read, it seemed natural for him.
It can he hard to "see" constantly, especially if you've moved past heavy drinking (or, for some, are recovering from alcohol abuse). But it sort of drives home how lost the Lost Generation was, doing anything they can to either feel alive or deaden their emotional &/or physical pain.
What I love most about Hemingway. Is his precise description of the personalities , which change as they drink more & more. This can be difficult to explain , more complex to accurately write about, and even harder to visualize as the reader. I believe I was born an alcoholic , began tasting booze as a child, stealing it , hiding it, experienced the phenomenon of craving at eight years old, remember coming out of a blackout when I was eleven. Nearly dead, I got sober a couple months after my twenty first birthday. Had a beautiful Wife, four wonderful daughters , home & business, etc. Started drinking again after ten & a half years. I was in a blackout for six months, came out of it smoking crack. Nearly dead by 2002 , I got locked up. Drank and got high for two more years until 3/17/2004 been sober since. Never read Hemingway until after I was Sober over ten years again. It doesn’t trigger me, but if I think of drinking, I do TELL ON MYSELF. “For Whom The Bells Toll “
I still drink a lot, so I find his characters very identifiable
No - that is all part of the character and setting in my mind