Hemmingway: The Code Hero

• Hemmingway writes about autobiographical subject matter

• Not entirely factual but based on his life

• Hemmingway’s reality = death, violence, fear– Not interested in outer sufferings internal

struggle– Few happy endings; readers gain respect for

courage and endurance– Must seek challenges to test oneself

Apprentice

• The apprentice learns, through trials, to be a man– Life affects the apprentice more than the

apprentice affects life– Must struggle against death, loneliness and

nada– If surrenders to nada dissolution

• Cowardice• Insanity• Suicide

Exemplar

• Sets example; a role model; mentor– Must continue to work to control the world and

overcome nada– Has already suffered and overcome many problems

that the apprentice must still face• Insomnia• Fear of the dark• Passivity• Dependence on sex and/or liquor• Superstition• Desire for religion• Inability to stop thinking

Exemplar Cont’d

– Skilled, professional and charismatic• Apprentice must have an exemplar, but readers

are more affected by and interested in the apprentice

• Apprentice is dynamic• Exemplar is static

Code

• Set of principles that enables character to face death, loneliness and nada with courage and dignity– Control fear with dignity = grace under

pressure– Seek challenges and participate in life– Will definitely struggle and suffer, but

ENDURANCE = VICTORY

Nada

• Man’s attempt to deal with the absence of God, the indifferent and hostile universe, and the absence of purpose, order, meaning and value in the universe and human life