Error Pop-Up - Close Button This group has been designated for adults age 18 or older. Please sign in and confirm your date of birth in your profile so we can verify your eligibility. You may opt to make your date of birth private.

The Importance of Reading Ernest discussion

8 views
Night Before Battle > Distraction

Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Brad (new)

Brad (judekyle) | 219 comments Mod
Something I loved in "Night Before Battle" is the way Hemingway situates distraction. It is another common trope in his work. Characters faced with difficult decisions, dangerous situations or even grief, will often distract themselves from their feelings.

Al Wagner and the pilots all do it with a crap game. Henry distracts himself by caring for Al. Baldy gets himself tight. Manolita distracts herself with the English correspondent. Like so much of what I love in Hemingway, this tendency to distract ourselves feels right.


back to top