In Another Country free essay sample

In Another Country, tells the story of four, sometimes five, decorated World War I veterans going through recovery in the city of Milan, Italy. Despite their sacrifices, the locals in the town are very unfriendly to the soldiers and shout at them. The yelling creates a bond between the men, pushing them away from the villagers and towards each other. Also, although the soldiers all participated in the war, the narrator becomes distanced from the group when they find out why he was awarded his medal. However, this does not keep them apart, it only creates slight tension within the group. In the story, you learn that the men are all recovering from war related injuries. Hemingway’s writing depicts a feeling of loss not only of functioning limbs, but also of faith and courage. In writing, â€Å". . . I was very much afraid to die, and often lay in bed at night by myself, afraid to die and wondering how I would be when back to the front again. We will write a custom essay sample on In Another Country or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † The first character you meet in the story is the Doctor. He tries to convince the soldiers that the recovery machines will be completely successful and their injuries will be better in a matter of time. However, Nick and the Major are very reluctant to believe in the machines and the doctor. Signore Maggiore, or the Major, is the second character introduced. Through out the story, the Major shows anger and emotional instability which stems from the recent loss of his wife from pneumonia. These emotions are exacerbated by the loss of function in his hand, as he was a champion fencer prior to the war. The Major clearly shows his anger and sadness when the narrator brings up the idea of marriage. The Major states, â€Å"The more a fool you are, he said. He seemed very angry. A man must not marry. ? Why, Signor Maggiore? ? Dont call me Signor Maggiore. ? Why must not a man marry? ? He cannot marry. He cannot marry, he said angrily. If he is to lose everything, he should not place himself in a position to lose that. He should not place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose. Whether it be a loss of love, a limb, courage, or respect, Hemingway clearly has set the theme of the story by speaking of loss. Every character in the story has loss in their life. The Major was a fencing champion but he has lost the use of his hand, while Nick was a football star but has an injured knee. Despite his efforts, the narrator feels as if he has been made into a fake and a cheat for receiving his medal for being an American. The others are not as specific but they too ar e injured and coping with similar problems such as the boy with the silk scarf to cover his mangled face. Hemingway’s language and image produce a tone of sadness such as when the Major talks about his wife: â€Å"And then crying, his head up looking at nothing, carrying himself straight and soldierly, with tears on both cheeks and biting his lips, he walked past the machines and out the door. † In that scene, an overwhelming sadness takes over and endures. However, Not all the men are sad because of love, they are also sad due to their losses from the war. At the very beginning, Hemingway writes â€Å"It was cold in the fall in Milan and the dark came very early. Then towards the end of that same paragraph he touches on the same subject in slightly different words, â€Å"It was a cold fall and the wind came down from the mountains. † By his use of repetition and imagery, Hemingway is conveying the feeling the coldness in Milan and the coldness in their lives. He also describes a deer and a fox in the snow, â€Å". . . and the snow powdered in the fur of the foxes and the wind blew their tails. The deer hung stiff and heavy and empty, and small birds blew in the wind and the wind turned their feathers. The animals are being buffeted by nature just as the men have been buffeted by the winds of war. The animals symbolize how the men used to be; they were strong and able. But now they are just the opposite, they can’t take care of themselves, walk on their own, or protect themselves. Loss and ruin permeate the short story although examples of the men as strong and capable are shown through imagery and symbolism. Hemingway’s depiction of the soldiers is one of loss and sadness; in need of not only physical healing, but emotional healing too.