Tragic Downfall and Fate
Despite Hemingway's assertion that "writing is architecture and not interior decoration," his book exposes the tumultuous nature of its development. The many inconsistencies across its three parts suggest a transition from a gritty and intense narrative about an individual's downfall to a watered-down, unfocused novel about Harry Morgan and society. Yet, traces of the initial design linger, emphasizing Harry's tragic fall with an almost classical sense of inevitability. Much like Oedipus Rex, who begins at the peak of his life, Harry's struggles against fate are overshadowed by a looming sense of doom. His decline is reflected in the book's section titles: Spring, Fall, and Winter, with Winter symbolizing death. In Spring, Harry suffers only a minor bite wound; in Fall, he is shot and loses an arm; and in Winter, he ultimately loses his life. While in Spring, he seems to have control over his destiny by refusing to smuggle Cuban revolutionaries, by Winter, he becomes so ensnared in his deteriorating circumstances that he resorts to actions he once resisted, like transporting the revolutionaries to their island.
Primitive Individualism vs. Society
Harry's downfall accelerates with every setback he faces. Despite his journey being influenced by economic forces out of his control, he never fully surrenders his autonomy. By holding Harry responsible for his decisions, Hemingway delves into another theme: the constraints of raw individualism in a progressively domesticated and bureaucratic America. Harry’s stubborn and anarchic self-reliance represents the ideals that many literary intellectuals, who admire Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, often extol. This doesn’t suggest that Harry is becoming a working-class activist. His defiance, much like his sense of morality, is starkly pragmatic ("what's moral is what you feel good after," he claims), a recurring theme in Hemingway’s narratives.
Romantic Nonconformity
Harry isn't interested in raising class awareness among the oppressed Conchs, supporting the Cuban revolt against the American-supported regime, or symbolically challenging Big Business government. Much like Walter Huff in James Cain's Double Indemnity, his objectives are more self-centered and less organized. Hemingway's protagonist seeks to outwit a system increasingly focused on government statistics and mass economics, rather than individuals like himself. This explains why he outright refuses to assist Cuban revolutionaries in reaching their island, why he unashamedly steals from poor Chinese migrants who paid for passage, and why he kills four militants to take money intended for the revolution. Hemingway explores a significant American theme: the admiration of the romantic nonconformist in a nation characterized by mass production and mass culture.
Eye-for-an-Eye Principle and Machismo
A recurring theme in Hemingway's work is the "eye-for-an-eye" principle— the notion of retaliating against aggression with equal force. Although he often emphasizes the importance of human connections and individual conduct within society, Hemingway has faced criticism for endorsing a brutal form of machismo. The waterfront setting is akin to a concrete jungle, populated with tough characters, straightforward attitudes, coarse language, shady bars, corrupt dealings, guns, alcohol, and the violent undertones of the Cuban revolution. This rugged backdrop is portrayed in a gritty narrative where thirteen characters meet their end. Yet, it is not as extreme as the depiction of a world at war frequently found in Hemingway's novels. It is a tough, indifferent world with little hope for humanity, a place where people are brought only to withstand life's blows. What ultimately rescues them, even as they tend to their wounds, is their code of honor: the only redeeming aspect for those destined to suffer may be the way they confront their downfall.
Solidarity and Final Words
In this context, Harry's famous last words ("No matter how a man alone ain't got no bloody fucking chance") seem to undermine his...
(This entire section contains 99 words.)
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principles, violating an unwritten agreement with the unforgiving yet significant natural world, and contradicting everything he represented throughout his life. These words come across as more of a moral lesson inserted by the author, which can make them feel inauthentic. Some critics have interpreted these final words as Hemingway's plea for unity among the oppressed working class. Although this might have been the author's intention, it seems insincere when considered alongside Harry's earlier thoughts and behavior.
Resigned Acceptance and Continuation of Life
When analyzing To Have and Have Not through the perspective of notable last words, it's important to recognize that the concluding statement is made not by Harry, but by his wife. Readers familiar with Ulysses may find it hard to ignore the similarities between Marie's soliloquy and Molly Bloom's stream of consciousness at the conclusion of Joyce's novel. This connection between the two works is not as unlikely as it might first seem. In 1922, Hemingway was in Paris, soliciting subscriptions for Joyce's new book and even devised a plan to smuggle forty copies into the United States (although his own copy had its pages cut only in the first half and the final soliloquy). In a recurring theme throughout Hemingway's most celebrated works, Marie's quiet display of sorrow echoes Frederic Henry in A Farewell to Arms, who sees people's lives mirrored in the frantic and aimless movements of ants on a burning log, endlessly fleeing towards false safety. Yet, much like Molly's life-affirming "Yes," Marie's despair transitions into a resigned acceptance that life must go on—even if we lack the presence of our loved ones. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, "The sun also rises," and Hemingway's characters consistently struggle with adapting to this truth.
Moral Superiority of Existential Stoicism
To Have and Have Not presents itself as a narrative striving to capture the essence of a proletarian novel, yet it falls short of effectively embodying this ambition. While some classify it among the pioneering works of the "tough guy" fiction genre, it doesn't fully achieve success there either. Instead, the novel’s most compelling aspect is its exploration of the moral superiority inherent in existential stoicism. This theme is vividly embodied by the protagonist, Harry Morgan, whose actions and demeanor consistently reflect a stoic resilience.
Harry Morgan’s character serves as a testament to this philosophy, as he navigates the trials and tribulations that life throws his way. His stoicism is not merely a facade but a way of being that imbues him with a sense of moral fortitude. This is particularly poignant in the way he faces challenges, maintaining a steadfast resolve that seems to transcend his circumstances.
Marie, Harry’s wife, also becomes a vessel for this existential stoicism, particularly as she grapples with the aftermath of Harry’s death. In her struggle, she instinctively taps into a similar well of stoic strength, suggesting that this moral superiority is not exclusive to Harry but is a potential within all individuals faced with existential crises. Her journey mirrors Harry's in its quiet determination, underscoring the pervasive influence of stoic principles throughout the narrative.
Contrast Between Harry Morgan and the Upper Class
Within the narrative of "To Have and Have Not," the character of Harry Morgan stands in stark contrast to the various strata of the upper class. Harry is a man of action, embroiled in a life where survival hinges on his ability to fight and even kill, not out of desire but necessity. His existence is marked by a rugged resilience and an ability to endure both physical and emotional pain. Hemingway crafts him as a symbol of raw courage and unwavering independence, attributes that define his masculine identity.
This portrayal of Morgan is set against the backdrop of a decadent upper class that comprises two distinct groups. The first is the idle rich, whose lives are characterized by leisure and a detachment from the struggles of ordinary existence. The second group comprises intellectuals who, rather than engage with social conflicts, prefer to use them as platforms to showcase their cleverness. These individuals approach life from a standpoint of privilege, their actions driven by profit, politics, or sheer bloodlust.
Through this stark dichotomy, Hemingway not only underscores the inherent toughness of Morgan but also uses it to highlight a broader existential theme. Harry's resilience is his response to life's challenges, an attitude deeply rooted in the necessity of survival. In contrast, the upper class's indulgence and intellectual posturing serve to emphasize their disconnection from the visceral realities that define Morgan's world. Ultimately, Harry Morgan’s character serves as a critique of the upper class's detachment and decadence, embodying a life lived on the edge and driven by the fundamental need to endure against all odds.
Admiration of Skill and Individual Action
Much like Hemingway, Morgan holds a deep admiration for skill in its purest form. Whether it's the finesse of fishing, the precision of baiting hooks like Wesley, or the brutal efficiency in combat, the act itself becomes its own reward. This intrinsic appreciation for skill eludes the wealthy, who are entrenched in a cycle of buying and selling rather than doing. In a society where crime and injustice reign, the concepts of law and order ring hollow. Survival hinges on power, money, and the ability to act independently. If surviving means outmaneuvering others, so be it.
For the impoverished, skills become a necessity and a source of pride. Often, this pride is their sole recompense, yet it provides a glimmer of satisfaction. Despite the relentless challenges they face, they press on with resilience, meeting each day with a stoic perseverance until their existence quietly fades away. This narrative underscores a world where endurance is both a daily struggle and an admirable testament to human spirit.
Desperation and Despair of the Individual
The novel, initially suggesting the potential for cooperation and collective strength common to proletarian narratives, ultimately veers in a different direction. Rather than celebrating the power of the poor, it delivers a somber message: the isolated individual stands little chance in the modern world. This theme of desperation and despair threads throughout the story, casting a shadow over the protagonist’s journey.
Harry Morgan, the central character, embodies some of the tenacious and self-reliant spirit of America’s early pioneers. Yet, his personality is laced with a grim realism that underscores his experiences. He navigates a world where hope is elusive, and neither socialism, Communism, nor capitalism offers a viable solution to his plight. For Harry, the truth is stark: everyone is essentially alone, grappling with their struggles in solitude.