Chapter 6 - Ernest Hemingway

Summary

Ritual and hospitality bind together the fiction of Ernest Hemingway and Cormac McCarthy. As their various protagonists struggle to find their way in landscapes no longer familiar, they turn to rituals, both established and newly concocted, as a way to navigate. Just as Hemingway’s heroes seek human connection as a way to heal their spiritual brokenness, so, too, do McCarthy’s protagonists, who turn to the rituals of hospitality. Their actions serve as affirmation that there is hope in spite of the evil prevalent in the world. In particular, the rituals of sacrifice and thanksgiving performed by women suggest God’s promise of the earth’s ultimate and mysterious goodness. These writers offer rich opportunities for comparison both in the college classroom and in critical conversation.