When writing “Big Two-Hearted River: Parts I and II,” Ernest Hemingway includes many of the small details which are often omitted by other authors. This completely shifts the focus of the story away from the actual plot. Instead, our attention is drawn to descriptions of seemingly insignificant details as well as the thoughts of Nick, the protagonist. This sort of description driven narrative also appears in Don DeLillo's novel White Noise. Like Hemingway, DeLillo uses minute details to the same effect, showing that this style of writing is not only effective in “Big Two-Hearted River.” Throughout the story, Hemingway's attention to detail creates a much larger story than he explicitly tells. Through these details, we can see what Nick is thinking, what his personality is, and we are able to learn more about his background. The details included by Hemingway in “Big Two-Hearted River” reveal
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Hemingway provides very little background for “Big Two-Hearted River.” Even when he is being descriptive, there still are few details to help us understand why Nick has decided to live in isolation. At first, Hemingway's details reveal only minor facts. At the outset of the story, Nick is dropped off by a train near the remnant of a town. Hemingway mentions some very specific information about it, such as the former existence of “thirteen saloons” (Hemingway 209). He identifies the only remaining structure as being from the “Mansion House hotel” (209) and provides us with the town's name by telling us that “it was all that was left of the town of Seney” (209). This implies that Nick has been to the town before. Along with these details, Hemingway provides one other vital piece of his protagonist's history: a friend named Hopkins. Hemingway describes how Nick thinks about him while making coffee at his
Hemingway provides very little background for “Big Two-Hearted River.” Even when he is being descriptive, there still are few details to help us understand why Nick has decided to live in isolation. At first, Hemingway's details reveal only minor facts. At the outset of the story, Nick is dropped off by a train near the remnant of a town. Hemingway mentions some very specific information about it, such as the former existence of “thirteen saloons” (Hemingway 209). He identifies the only remaining structure as being from the “Mansion House hotel” (209) and provides us with the town's name by telling us that “it was all that was left of the town of Seney” (209). This implies that Nick has been to the town before. Along with these details, Hemingway provides one other vital piece of his protagonist's history: a friend named Hopkins. Hemingway describes how Nick thinks about him while making coffee at his