Guilty as Charged In terms of any sexual or romantic encounter, it is at upmost importance that both parties are in mutual agreement of what is unravelling. In Earnest Hemingway’s short story “Up in Michigan” the story is told through the lens of a young girl named Liz Coats who finds herself in a situation where sexual consent is in question after her encounter with a man. Through Hemingway’s rhetoric devices, the evidence is laid out clearly that Jim Gilmore sexually assaulted the victim Liz Coates. First, before any attempt can be made in accusing Jim Gilmore of foul play, it is essential to understand exactly who the victim was. Hemingway quickly opens up his story by delicately describing the features that make up Liz Coates. The narrator
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This adds even more weight to the emotions that Liz is experiencing. There are six times throughout the entire time she is with Jim where Hemingway writes about her being “frightened” (84-85). Of course her nervousness may have played a role in the fact that she was afraid of her impression on Jim. Looking deeper at Liz’s words, we see this fear quickly turned to rejection of Jim’s action. She states “Don’t, Jim…you mustn’t, Jim. You mustn’t” and she continues to tell Jim not to do it anymore (Hemingway 84). Jim—who at this point is drunk beyond his own control—refuses to recognize her requests to stop and continues anyway. The tone of panic is at a height. Many can argue that if she is allowing herself to go through with it then it has to be consensual. However, Jim is not someone who has the ability to read her mind. The verbal requests indicated that she wanted him to stop. Any seminar on sexual harassment will speak about when a woman says no it means no. Not to keep trying, or to try and convince her. Regardless if she wanted it to keep going, it is consent that is in question. Jim should have stopped once she had asked him
This adds even more weight to the emotions that Liz is experiencing. There are six times throughout the entire time she is with Jim where Hemingway writes about her being “frightened” (84-85). Of course her nervousness may have played a role in the fact that she was afraid of her impression on Jim. Looking deeper at Liz’s words, we see this fear quickly turned to rejection of Jim’s action. She states “Don’t, Jim…you mustn’t, Jim. You mustn’t” and she continues to tell Jim not to do it anymore (Hemingway 84). Jim—who at this point is drunk beyond his own control—refuses to recognize her requests to stop and continues anyway. The tone of panic is at a height. Many can argue that if she is allowing herself to go through with it then it has to be consensual. However, Jim is not someone who has the ability to read her mind. The verbal requests indicated that she wanted him to stop. Any seminar on sexual harassment will speak about when a woman says no it means no. Not to keep trying, or to try and convince her. Regardless if she wanted it to keep going, it is consent that is in question. Jim should have stopped once she had asked him