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Essay / The Effects of War in The Great River of Two Hearts
The “Great River of Two Hearts” is a story by Ernest Hemingway that includes two parts focusing on the effects of war on its characters. Nick Adams, the protagonist of the story, seeks to escape the harsh environment of war by enveloping himself in nature. Nick returns home after being disillusioned and emotionally wounded by World War I, but he leaves for northern Michigan on a camping tour. He deliberately sets out to make the journey alone to restore his peace and find balance for his traumatized soul. The living seems to deliberately pave the way for what it pursues thanks to natural recuperative and restorative powers. Nick witnessed first-hand the terrors of war, which left him seriously injured and contributed to his depression (Hemingway 2014 p.2). In an attempt to put aside some of the fears associated with such experiences and reintegrate himself into a strong emotional life, he believes that he should detach himself from those around him until such time as he regains his sense of humanity and of reason. The actions Nick takes show readers the value of isolation in moments of introspection, which contributes to a normal life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Nick's quest to restore his inner peace and emotions reveals the theme of recovery. His recovery begins when he travels alone to an uninhabited area along the imaginary Two-Hearted River in northern Michigan, where he can see Lake Superior up close from atop a hill. The town of Seney was destroyed, with only the rails and fires remaining. The burning town symbolizes Nick's life. He leaves behind the devastated and burned parts of his life, hoping to seek rebirth on the fertile banks of the river (Hemingway 2014 p. 5). Additionally, he stops at the bridge to watch the trout in the stream. Watching the trout move, he feels a pleasure that he has not felt in a long time. After leaving the burned city, he felt happy and excited to leave all his needs behind. He can rediscover a feeling of simplicity in life thanks to his camping trip which allowed him to fish, cook, eat and sleep. Nick also remembers his friend Hopkins making coffee. He drinks Hopkins-style coffee as a souvenir. The coffee was bitter, which made Nick laugh. In this case, Nick suggests certain guidelines that an individual would follow to stay happy, such as remembering happy moments and re-enacting them. In addition, coffee is a drink consumed by many people to start the day off right without being seen in a bad mood. Nick was never used to drinking coffee often because he couldn't remember how to make it, but as soon as he remembers how Hopkins used to make it, he doesn't hesitate to make his own ( Hemingway 2014 p.14). Like Hopkins who was swallowed up by the world of materialism and money which made him forget the necessary values like friendship, Nick too who once believed in the glory of war and was almost killed by its machines, but survived, he returns home to the wild and restores his mental and physical health. The ceremonial manner in which Nick drinks his Hopkins-style camp coffee connects him to old friends and relations, triggering fond memories. Nick's preparations for the fishing trip and wading the river for trout required him to have bait. . He is surrounded by grasshoppers, who seem lazy in the early morning because of the heavy dew. For his preparation, he picks up.