Hemingway is an American writer who existed between 1899 and 1961 that dwelled majorly in short stories and novels. Initial before venturing in fiction, Hemingway reported for Kansas City Star and the ambulance's driver in the First World War. Furthermore, evidence confirms that he was an employee of Toronto star during his time in Paris. Also, he was a newspaper correspondent during the two wars- Second World War and the Spanish war. Later he met his untimely death by suicide in Cuba 1961. Analysis claims him being a better short story writer than a novelist. His narration is masculine related, such as bullfighting and hunting in the books “Death in the Afternoon” and the “Green Hills of Africa”, respectively ( Kawamura 2017). Most of his writings were personal experience and adventure-based. This paper evaluates the literary elements of Hemingway’s work in the article The Killers
“ The Killer” has the following character, Ali and Max, who were the killers, Henry, the counterman in the lunchroom, Nick Adams, a protagonist teenager with loosened morals Sam the cook, Anderson, targeted for murder and customers (motorman and Irate).
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The plot of this story begins in the late hours of the evening in Chicago town inside the lunchroom of Henry. Inside the restaurant, there is George and other workers who pay little no attention to the status quo by leaving a clock wall displaying 5:00 instead of 5:20. The workers are ambushed two new strangers-Al and his friend Max in a symbolic dressing code. Al proceeded to make orders and on finding that food could not be served unless until six o'clock, became sarcastic. He is quoted answering max that "they, George and other workers, all came here to eat the big dinner." When later demanded orders arrived, Ali and Max enjoy the meals with their gloves on after unintentional exchange.
Besides, Nick is compelled by Max to go to the other side of the counter as George is demanded to bring Sam, commonly referred to as the nigger from the kitchen. At this point, tension sway in, and George necessitates the inquiry of those orders on seeing a shotgun. To his surprise, the two stranger affirmed that they were on a mission to kill Ole Andreson , despite him not having wronged them. Meanwhile, Sam and Nic are confiscated by Al. two other customers come in and attended to by George and leaves. Later another customer arrives but fails to receive the services as there was no one to attend to him a situation that left him lamenting. The Al gets out of the kitchen with the gun in his coat and leaves with Max allowing George to untie his friends. Soon Nick goes to warn Anderson that he is marked for murder. Anderson affirms that there is nothing he can do about it and opts no report the matter to the police. An idea firmly rejected by Nic that it would be useless as well. Nic comes back to the restaurant, and George comments on Anderson's issue that he is in great trouble in Chicago.
Several themes have been developed in 'The Killer' story. Corruption in America 1920 dominates the whole story terming it the central theme. The government was highly corrupted as evidence by the Teapot Scandal. Even the police are so corrupt that their services cannot be relied on. In the story, after the mob that wanted to kill Anderson leaves, Nic is advised not to call police but instead to recommend Anderson.
On the other hand, Nick refuses that Anderson should not go to the police as quoted from the article, "don't go if you don't want to" this is due to fearing reprisal from the gang or failure of police to respond. Georges respond as quoted, "they will kill him" also indeed affirms the level of corruption in the era. In the book, 'the killers' Adam represents the old values until when the gang, Ali, and Max entered Henry's lunchroom and spoiled them by exposing how rotted and corrupt Chicago was.
Furthermore, a theme of emasculation is evidenced in the article. The killers are bruising the masculinity of Sam, George, and Nic. The following quotes from the book support the claim: "I got them tied up like a couple of girlfriends in the covenant." However, Anderson is emasculated by his killers despite being strong to an extend the narrator describes him as "too long for the bed," still confirms there is nothing he can do to them.
The third theme is the inability to escape death. Anderson believes that there is nothing he can do to avoid being killed equipped with the guns in their coats. George and Sam avoid being involved in the thug. Also, the comment George gives on Anderson's case as quoted "he will be killed" affirms.
Hemingway has employed a style of using a third person throughout his narration on what the characters do and say. His style developed during his career as a reporter, where he exercised devoid paragraphs and short sentences. Although he employs a straight forward style, his work constitutes complex themes.
Hemingway has used the following symbols, as evident in the book. The black attire of the killers is used to symbolize death and other evil activities that the society involved in like corruption. The restaurant expressed the changing time in that it as a tavern, but now it's a restaurant. This shows the changes of a real current society. Furthermore, the tree branches show the proximity of death. The narrator says, as quoted, "outside the arc-light shone through the bare branches of a tree," the statement is timely just when Nic is leaving the restaurant. Also, there is a wicket that symbolizes racial discrimination.
The tone of the narrator in “The Killer’ is bitterly sarcastic. When Al and Max entered the restaurant, they were sarcastic to George and his friend. When Ali asked what George had come to do in the restaurant, Max sarcastically responded as quoted, "They all came here and ate the big dinner." Max again later, sarcastically tells another bright boy when referring to Adam.
Furthermore, there is also an aggressive tone evident in some areas. When the customer came to the restaurant when Al and Max were in, and he was not served, he aggressively reacted. He says as quoted, "why the hell doesn't you get another cook."
References
Allen, C. O., Carrier, S. R., & Woods, E. (2018). U.S. Patent No. 10,073,835 . Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Kawamura, Y. (2017). Literary Elements in Rāvaṇa's Grammatical Speech. The Annals of the Research Project Center for the Comparative Study of Logic , (14), 91-102.
