THE GARDEN OF EDEN BY EARNEST HEMINGWAY:
A sensational bestseller when it appeared in 1986, The Garden of Eden is the last uncompleted novel of Ernest Hemingway, which he worked on intermittently from 1946 until his death in 1961. It is a highly readable story,if not possibly
the book he envisioned. As published it is composed of 30 short chapters running to about 70,000 words. A publisher’s note advises that ‘’some cuts” have been made in the manuscript, but according to Mr. Baker’s biography, at one point a revised manuscript of the work ran to 48 chapters and 200,000 words, so the publisher’s note is disingenuous. In an interview with The New York Times last December, a Scribners editor admitted to taking out a subplot in rough draft that he felt had not been integrated into the ”main body” of the text, but this cut reduced the book’s length by two-thirds.
Set on the C te d’Azur in the 1920s, it is the story of a young American writer, David Bourne, his glamorous wife, Catherine, and the dangerous, erotic game they play when they fall in love with the same woman.
Set in the 1920’s on the Cote d’Azur, it chronicles the honeymoon of David Bourne, a writer, and his lovely, impulsive wife Catherine. As her strange compulsions take her on a slide toward either freedom or insanity, David struggles to follow her and still practice his chosen craft. Soon after another woman enters their relationship, the struggle becomes one for control of David’s art through his love for both Catherine & Marita, the newcomer. This is a love-triangle with three complete sides (as they pair & repair), and how each of these characters chooses to resolve their struggle belies the more prurient aspects of the book: this is less erotica than a story of how the dark & bright
sides of desire inform lives, how they empower & weaken us, and how love may not be enough — even ‘true’ love. Newly married David and Catherine have pioneered their own Club Med. on the Riviera. It is the perfect place for a sea
change. The couple spends golden days brunching, mixing drinks with Perrier, wearing fisherman shirts and espadrilles, swimming and tanning in the buff.
The rate of exchange is very favorable.
The trouble in paradise is that David is on the threshold of literary fame while the beautiful and rich Catherine is jealous of her husband’s reviews. She is also sexually unsettled. In bed with David, she wants to be a boy. She then persuades her husband to join her in getting matching short haircuts and a platinum – blond dye job. (Hemingway fans may recall that the Catherine of A Farewell to Arms also suggests twin coiffures but without the bleach.) Eventually, Catherine comes out of the closet on the arm of the dark,lovely and rich Marita. ”All things truly wicked start from innocence,” Hemingway once wrote. Adam and Eve got the message late, and so do David and Catherine. Her kittenish antics turn savage. She thrusts Marita and her husband together with predictable consequences and then strikes out at both of them. The situation is somewhat similar to the time Hemingway and his first wife Hadley spent a summer
living with Pauline Pfeiffer, a Paris Vogue editor who was to become the second Mrs. Hemingway.Yet Catherine shares some of her most unbecoming characteristics with Zelda Fitzgerald, the envious and unbalanced wife of Hemingway’s pal F. Scott. If Hemingway had completed this romance, perhaps Catherine would have had more than two dimensions. The first is what Edmund Wilson called ”the all-
too-perfect felicity of a youthful erotic dream.’ The second hinges on the age-old view of woman as the cause of original sin. Catherine is a spoiler whose taste in forbidden fruit threatens the private Eden of David’s art. It is the place where he struggles with his own lost innocence. Despite some tender pillow talk and David’s willingness to follow Catherine to the hairdresser, The Garden of Eden is not the work of a secret quiche eater. Catherine’s urges do not come naturally to David.
His women are part of the external world, like the baking Mediterranean sun and the bracing sea. As always in Hemingway, those externals are observed with a meticulous objectivity that conveys loneliness. There are also many
self-conscious passages on the writer’s solitary struggle. For example: it is all very well for you to write simply and the simpler the better. But do not start to think so damned simply. Know how complicated it is and then state it
simply.” Since he did not finish this difficult task, Hemingway cannot be blamed if there is less than meets the eye in The Garden of Eden. What does meet the eye is often enough. The novel, presents a “new, sensitive Hemingway,”
writing with “tenderness and vulnerability” about “strange and disturbing” sexual gamesmanship, including male-female role reversals and a menage a trois. It also contains a short story — “written” in the course of the book by its
protagonist — with a negative view of elephant hunting. (”It may come as a surprise, but Hemingway never shot an elephant,” says Patrick Hemingway, Ernest’s second son. “He thought it wrong — he felt that elephants are our equals.”)
In short, the macho man of letters celebrated hunter and frequent husband, used this late novel “to take on everything people had pinned on him, his work, and his image. If all this were not intriguing enough, there were rumors that the book had gone long unpublished because Mary, Hemingway’s fourth wife and widow objected to its sexual revelations. In her memoir, How It Was Mary reports that she and her husband were “androgynous” in bed; in The Garden of
Eden, there are several nocturnal scenes — anatomically vague but emotionally precise — in which the lovers swap sexual identities. Scribner’s denies that Mary, now suffering from long illness, ever barred publication. Set in the 1920s, it’s the hedonistic tale of newlyweds Catherine and David Bourne, a 28-year-old writer enjoying early success. The novel opens in the French seaport village of Le Grau-du-Roi, where Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline, spent their honeymoon in 1927. A fashion editor at Paris Vogue, Pauline had befriended Ernest and his first wife, Hadley, two years before and lived with them on the French Riviera in the summer of 1926. “The arrangement has
advantages until you know how it works out,” Hemingway later wrote about the summer that ended his first marriage and launched his second. “The husband has two attractive girls around when he has finished work. One is new and strange and if he has bad luck he gets to love them both…. First it is stimulating and fun. All things truly wicked start from innocence.” He could have been talking about The Garden of Eden. Like all Hemingway heroes, David Bourne resembles his creator: Cool and laconic, he’s thinking about fishing, safari, and his next book. Catherine, seven years younger, is jealous of his work, obsessed with fashion and her tan, experimenting with androgyny (she and David clip and color their hair to match). “Catherine seems to encourage David’s
writing,” “but she really can’t stand the idea. To undermine him, she promotes another woman in the relationship. It becomes a m+nage ? Trois. And dark forces are let loose.” She can’t prevent her husband from writing, and as David
falls into his work, Hemingway’s novel melts into the short story David writes — a superb piece about a father and son hunting elephant on an African safari.
The story is broken up throughout the book, starting with quick sentences and ending with long gripping passages, so the reader feels the writer’s dislocation — drawn into Africa, thrown back into France, with two women waiting. The climax of the novel has to do with Catherine’s reaction to this story, which David has written by hand in the simple cahiers used by French schoolchildren. A disaster then occurs which is the worst that can befall a writer as a writer, and the menage breaks up forever, two to stay together and one to leave. AT first reading this is a surprising story to receive from the great outdoor athlete of American literature. He has not previously presented
himself as a clinician of bedroom practices. Even more interesting is the passivity of his writer hero who, on the evidence, hates big-game hunting, and who is portrayed as totally subject to the powers of women, hapless before
temptation and unable to take action in the face of adversity. The story is told from David Bourne’s masculine point of view, in the intimate or pseudo-third person Hemingway preferred, but its major achievement is Catherine
Bourne. There has not before been a female character who dominates a Hemingway narrative. Catherine in fact may be the most impressive of any woman character in Hemingway’s work, more substantive and dimensional than Pilar in ”For
Whom the Bell Tolls,” or Brett Ashley in ”The Sun Also Rises.” Even though she is launched from the naive premise that sexual fantasizing is a form of madness, she takes on the stature of the self-tortured Faustian, and is portrayed as a brilliant woman trapped into a vicarious participation in someone else’s creativity. She represents the most informed and deli-cate reading Hemingway has given to any woman. At one point he conceived of it as one of a trilogy of books in which the sea figured. Certainly its title
suggests a governing theme o f his creative life, the loss of paradise, the expulsion from the garden, which controls ”The Sun also rises” and ”A Farewell to Arms,” among other books and stories. As for David Bourne, he is
unmistakably the younger literary brother of Jake Barnes,the newspaperman wounded to impotence in that first expatriate novel. But David’s passivity is not physical and therefore more difficult to put across. He reminds us a bit,
actually, of Robert Cohn, whom Jake Barnes despised for suffering quietly the belittling remarks of women in public.Perhaps Hemingway is learning to dispense his judgments more thoughtfully.
REFERENCES:
1) Clifford, Stephen P., and Reading Hemingway: The Facts in
the Fictions. (Book reviews). Vol. 24, College Literature,
06-01-1997, pp 172(11).
2) Richardson, Miles, Place, Narrative, and the Writing
Self: The Poetics of Being in the Garden of Eden. Vol. 35,
The Southern Review, 04-01-1999, pp 330.
Другие работы по теме:
Chance Essay Research Paper Heroes are a
Chance Essay, Research Paper Heroes are a product of a society?s perception of someone to be praised and adored. The definition of a hero is dependent on that society?s beliefs, laws and taboos.
Midnight In Garden Of Good Essay Research
Paper In the novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt tries to show the reader how Savannah has never changed. He looks at different people and
White Lilacs Essay Research Paper White Lilacsby
White Lilacs Essay, Research Paper White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer I predict that . . . the Jefferson family will have many more harsh times ahead. I think this because they are already struggling to bring home
Summary Of The Setting In
“The Garden Party” By Katherine Mansfield Essay, Research Paper 2000-02-07 A summary of the setting in “The Garden-Party” by Katherine Mansfield. The setting in the book The Garden-Party is a very central element in the story. It is a beautiful summer day and a respectable family are having a garden party.
My Antonia Essay Research Paper 2
My Antonia Essay, Research Paper "My Antonia," by Willa Cather has many symbols through out the novel. Symbolism reflects her own views as a child through her life. Some of these
Eve And The Apple Essay Research Paper
Eve and the Apple No one completely understands the ways of God. Many of us can come up with our own opinions, and justify his ways in our own minds, just as Milton did in Paradise
Garden Of Love Essay Research Paper William
Garden Of Love Essay, Research Paper William Blake’s “Garden of Love” In William Blake’s Garden of Love, published in 1794, the speaker shows that from day one of any persons life, nothing remains uniform. That life is always in a state of change, disarray, and inconsistency. The speaker tries to do this by bringing you to a state of being and realization of the church, nature, and sentimental meaning.
Significance Of Cain And Able Story In
East Of Ede Essay, Research Paper While Samuel, Adam, and Lee are trying to pick names for the twins a biblical reference to the Cain and Abel story arises. The three men have an elaborate conversation about the story which leads to the conclusion that the nature of man has characteristics of both good and evil, and the Cain and Abel story precisely names and describes those characteristics.
The Garden Party Essay Research Paper Looking
The Garden Party Essay, Research Paper Looking at the plot in a garden party The Sheridan family is arranging a Garden Party a beautiful sunny day. In the poorer neighbourhood across the street, a young man gets killed in an accident. When the young girl Laura hears about this, she wants the garden party cancelled to show some respect for the exposed family.
Garden Archetype Essay Research Paper The Garden
Garden Archetype Essay, Research Paper The Garden Archetype An archetype is an image, ideal, or pattern that has come to be considered a universal model. Archetypes are found in mythology, literature, and the arts, and are important factors in philosophy. There are several kinds of archetypes, however, there are six main archetypes that are prevalent in today s literature and usually easy to recognize.
Comparing Creation Accounts Essay Research Paper The
Comparing Creation Accounts Essay, Research Paper The creation of the earth and all that is within the earth is mysterious yet miraculous at the same time. Although there are probably hundreds of different accounts, they all seem to be different while almost identical in text. I will be comparing and contrasting between account one and account two in the book of Genesis.
Turn Of The Screw Is An Allego
Essay, Research Paper The Turn of the Screw Henry James The Turn of the Screw is an incredibly complicated and hard to understand story; it hints at much, but explains little. The fact that the story is open to so many interpretations is, in some ways, the point of the story. The Turn of the Screw is a classic example of the Gothic novel, which depends on a sound concept of evil.
Paradise Lost Essay Research Paper Where Connotations
Paradise Lost Essay, Research Paper Where Connotations Serve to Clarify Julнan Marнas, a Spanish philosopher proves to be no exception to the numerous writers attempting to describe California?s effect on both visitors and residents alike almost predictably invoking the idea of paradise in their evaluation.
East Of Eden BookMovie Comparison Essay Research
Paper East of Eden: Book / Movie Explanation John Steinbeck?s epic tale, East of Eden, is portrayed very accurately in Elia Kazan?s film adaptation of the novel. Though the screen adaptation of East of Eden is an
Bible Art Essay Research Paper Art in
Bible: Art Essay, Research Paper Art in the Bible An abstract look at a renaissance perception of the Bible Table of Contents Part 1 The Painting Part 2 A compalation of abstract ideas
The Truman Show Essay Research Paper 2
The Truman Show Essay, Research Paper “The Truman Show” and Hierophonic Visions The Truman Show depicts the life of a human that was adopted by a company and filmed all his life. His life had been broadcast all around the world and people everywhere have lived his life with him. The story starts with the main character, Truman, an adult and married now, leaving for work.
Spring Essay Research Paper George Manley Hopkin
Spring Essay, Research Paper George Manley Hopkin s poem, Spring is a sonnet. The poem deals with the rebirth of a soul. Hopkins writes his poem about the season of spring. Within the poem, Hopkins uses imagery as well as literary devices to portray his meaning.
Snake By Lawrence Essay Research Paper Snake
Snake By Lawrence Essay, Research Paper ?Snake? is one of Lawrence?s most famous poems. Although the poem seems to be about an encounter with a snake, the true theme of the poem is the conflict
Helen
’s Garden Essay, Research Paper -Journal- Helen s Garden With the advent of the warm season upon me I decided to explore my new surroundings in a new town. I had driven past a beautiful garden setting
Adam And Eve Essay Research Paper In
Adam And Eve Essay, Research Paper In the ?Book of Genesis?, an ancient Hebrew story from the King James Bible, we are given the account of Adam and Eve. Eve is led up the path of temptation and forced to make a
Eve In The Bible Essay Research Paper
?Eve? The story of the creation of Adam and Eve must be one of the most widely known stories of all. The entire story transcends religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Adam and Eve were the first people to populate God’s new creation. They were placed by God in the Garden of Eden. It was a utopia unparalleled by human invention.
Adam And Eve Essay Research Paper Lee
Adam And Eve Essay, Research Paper Lee Daville English IV A Summary of ?The Diaries of Adam and Eve? This play takes place in a beautiful, mysterious garden. Two characters make up
Describing Biblical Parallels In Hawthorne
’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” Essay, Research Paper Describing Biblical Parallels in Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” In Hawthorne’s ?Rappaccini’s Daughter,? many biblical parallels can be
Paradise Essay Research Paper Where Connotations Serve
Paradise Essay, Research Paper Where Connotations Serve to Clarify Jul an Mar as, a Spanish philosopher proves to be no exception to the numerous writers attempting to describe California s effect on both visitors and residents alike almost predictably invoking the idea of paradise in their evaluation.
Literary Techniques Essay Research Paper 1 ImageryImagery
Literary Techniques Essay, Research Paper 1. Imagery Imagery is one of the main techniques used through out Waiting for Godot. The first image that appears is a tree. This simple tree in the middle of a desolate setting alludes to many symbols. To start, the tree represents the Tree of Knowledge, for it creates a reverse Garden of Eden.
What Is It Mean To Be A
Human Essay, Research Paper The Old Testament begins with creation of earth and lives on earth. After that we read about creation of different creatures and creation of a man. God made man and female in his image and put him above all other creatures. God creates man from dust and put him in the Garden of Eden. He also creates woman from man’s rib.
Moby Dick By Herman Melville (1819 -
– 1891) Essay, Research Paper Moby Dick, or, The White Whale is a book of amazing depth. It can be read on several levels: for over a century it has captivated young readers, naturalists, historians and literary scholars
Extended Metaphor FriendshipGarden Essay Research Paper Having
Extended Metaphor: Friendship/Garden Essay, Research Paper Having a relationship is a lot like growing a garden. With careful planning, you choose what you are going to grow and you select a location for the garden. The garden is started when you plant the seeds. Before you start a relationship, you choose who you are going to befriend, and the planting of this relationship is a simple “hello.” Planning and planting the seeds, however, are only the beginning — the plants don’t begin to grow immediately, and neither do relationships.
Improper Watering Essay Research Paper Background InformationImproper
Improper Watering Essay, Research Paper Background Information Improper watering is probably the greatest reason for failure in the small garden. In the small garden the soil needs to be at field capacity, a state in which the water is equally distributed throughout the soil, otherwise know as equilibrium.
Eden In A Separate Peace Essay Research
Paper In his novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles follows the experiences of Gene Forester during two very profound years of his life. A noteworthy aspect of his writing is his imaginative and thoughtful use of symbolism throughout his novels. In A Separate Peace, one can observe several symbolic patterns.
Describing Biblical Parallels In
‘Rappacini’s Daughter’ Essay, Research Paper Describing Biblical Parallels In Hawthorne?s ?Rappaccini?s Daughter,? many biblical parallels can be found.
Bathing The Dog Essay Research Paper Bathing
Bathing The Dog Essay, Research Paper Bathing the Dog Dear Janet, Today my mom and I bathed our new dog. We had a hard time trying to get him to stay still but we did. So let me tell you how we accomplished this task.
Demian
– Herman Hesse Essay, Research Paper Herman Hesse?s novel Demian tells of a young boy named Emil Sinclair and his childhood growing up during pre-World War I. Emil struggles to find