A Literary Analysis of Modernism in the Snow of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway Essay

Modernism in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" Modernism is an artistic movement that rebels against past traditionsand social norms. Ernest Hemingway shows many characteristics of modernismin his short story, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." A reader can see modernismthrough Hemingway's unique style of writing, emphasis of values andbeliefs, and common modernist themes, such as alienation and nihilism. Modernism rebels against norms of form, grammar, and taste.Hemingway's structure and style of the "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" reflectsthis as he shifts back and forth from the traditional form to theitalicized passages. These italicized passages reveal Harry's privatethoughts and memories through flashbacks at the same time rebelling againstthe normal chronological order in a story. When Harry is dying, Hemingwayagain shifts between events happening in reality and events happening inHarry's head without clarifying the difference. At first, the reader willthink that the plane has arrived and they are taking Harry away, but thenthe next passage has the woman waking up and finding Harry unresponsive andnot breathing. The reader realizes that Harry flying up in the plane andtoward the top of Kilimanjaro is Harry dying. Modernism rejects social norms by emphasizing beliefs and values. In"The Snows of Kilimanjaro", the woman values staying alive, which Hemingwayportrays when the woman goes hunting for meat to feed them. (Hemingway1025) However, Harry believes it is his fate to die on that mountain, "Nowif this was how it ended, and he knew it was..." (Hemingway 1026). Thewoman works to keep them both alive, while the man does nothing to help heror him (Hemingway 1025). "She said, 'Darling, please don't drink that. Wehave to do everything we can.' 'You do it' he said. 'I'm tired." (Hemingway1023) The reader will also see what Harry values most and what he doesn'tas he is dying. Harry does not value his time left with...

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