Born in Oak Park Illinois in the year 1899, Ernest Hemingway grew up to be a major influence on American literature. His life took him all over the world and though many tests of character. He was an ambulance driver in World War I before living as an expatriate in Paris. Hemingway was married three times, published countless books, and won the Nobel Prize for literature. His life ended suddenly in 1961 at the age of 62 when he committed suicide. Hemingway led a life full of adventure and extraordinary experience. He accomplished more in hi

By introducing the main character as a common man to whom the reader can relate Hemingway involves the reader in the character's story. He then places the character in situations that allow him to show his true colors. The protagonist will experience trials or rites of passage that test his integrity, honor, and courage. These tests are met with what Hemingway considers to be the ideal human reaction, what he would like to have done in the same situation. For the first of the trials the protagonist always meets the challenge with strength and overcomes the obstacles. In these cases the main character puts forth courage and determination and the opposition is met and bested.

Just as Ernest Hemingway uses trials to show strength in his protagonist he uses trials to show weakness. Man is not defined by his strength alone. Weakness shown by a man can be just as noble as strength in certain situations. Jean Paul Sartre said, "that which does not kill me makes me stronger" (Bartlett's Book of Quotations). Man's times of weakness can be a great force for strength. Certain tests are too great for any man. What is important is how the man recovers from his defeat. The tougher the trial and the weaker one gets, the greater his potential for recovery and strength. Hemingway chose to end both The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms with the main characters at their weakest point.

s life than most men and left a definite mark on all of American literature.

In the novel A farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway the main character was an American who joined the Italian army as an ambulance driver. His name was Lieutenant Frederic Henry. The story opens in late summer as the Italians enter World War I. Henry was stationed in a villa near the Austrian front. He was surrounded by a broad spectrum of people. In the Villa there was a priest, the major, lieutenant Rinaldi, and the captain. The major was an atheist and a very blunt impolite man. The captain was also an impolite man; he was constantly making fun of the priest. Rinaldi was mild in comparison to the others but he was always on his way to or from the local whorehouse. The priest was a very sweet man and he took the joking well. He cared a lot for Lieutenant Henry and always looked out for him. Henry himself didn't fit in with either the Italians or the priest. He would go with the others to the whorehouse and laugh with the captain at the priest's expense but Hemingway wanted the reader to see something more in Lieutenant Henry. Henry always talked with the priest. The priest did not approve of all his actions but always saw the good in him. Hemingway wants the reader to identify with the lieutenant's actions. The reader can then see the flaws and the merits of Henry and come to respect him as an equal.

In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway the protagonist was Santiago an old fisherman living in Cuba. Earlier in his life he had been married. Now he was alone except for Manolin, a boy he had taken into his boat and taught to fish. The old man had gone eighty-five days without catching a fish. The boy's parents needed money and after the fortieth day they made him go to another boat. The boy loved the old man and still helped him any way he could. Manolin is presented as an innocent and impressionable character. The reader's initial opinion of the old man is based on the boy's. Without Manolin one might get the impression that the old man is weak and completely alone in the world. The boy helps to reveal Santiago's past happiness and success. Hemingway wants readers to identify with the old man and his past feelings. The readers can see the old man's past, his good times and bad times, and come to respect him as an equal.

Hemingway once stated, "All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn" (Bartlett's book of quotations). He had a deep respect for Twain's work. By comparing his books

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Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page double spaced)