Hemingway vs Faulkner

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Week 04 – Compare and Contrast Hemingway VS Faulkner Jeremy P. Davis Rasmussen College Author Note A research paper, 02/03/2013, Instructor Candy A. Henry, Course G330/AML3041 Week 04 American Literature – winter 2013 Hemingway VS Faulkner At first glance Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” seem literally worlds apart. However, in fact they have many similarities in regards to duty verses honor as well as death and rebirth. In “Snows” Hemingway paints a picture of a married couple. Helen, who was born into money and lived a privileged life and Harry, a world traveled writer who seemed happier when he was poor and writing rather than relying on his wife’s wealth. The couple have found themselves stranded in Africa due to them taking a safari and Harry has developed a terrible case of gangrene in his leg. Harry realizes that the gangrene is going to kill him before the rescue plane arrives. This gives him ample time to reflect on his life and the many regrets he has. Harry is quite bitter about the fact that he has spent many years of his life relying on his wife’s wealth, and he feels it robbed him of his writing. Harding states in her essay on the story, “Because Helen has been speaking about unrealized, not actual, vacations, readers must infer the connection that Harry makes. He seems to imply that Helen’s ability to imagine a host of scenarios for leisure is symptomatic of her wealth and privileged lifestyle.” (Harding, 2011) Johnston also states that, “It is quite clear that deep down (Harry) blames the corrupting power of money and the seductive life of hedonism, which the wealth makes possible, for sapping his artistic vitality.” (Johnston, 1984) Ultimately, Harry feels that he never really loved Helen at all. His choice in the end is whether to confess this

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