The Snows Of Kilimanjaro Symbolism

Irrevocable Regrets Hemingway’s Overarching theme of death creates an overwhelming sense of fear and anguish. He takes us to the summit of the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. In the story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” Harry and his wife Helen, become stranded on a safari in Africa after one of the bearings in their truck burned out. Africa was not a final destination for Harry but Fate has ultimately made this his final resting ground. In this story, Ernest Hemingway demonstrates the theme of death using irony, metaphors, symbolism and images. Death is the main theme in “The snows of Kilimanjaro,” Even before Hemingway’s takes us through Harry’s journey, he describes the leopard who is frozen at its summit, letting us …show more content…
Its ironic how the very first thing Harry says in the story refers to death. “The marvelous thing is that it’s painless,” “That’s how you know when it starts.” He scratched his leg on a thorn and didn’t put any iodine on it, after a while it festered and became infected. Harry continues not to show any sign of hope “Don’t be silly. I’m dying now”(53). Almost as if harry has given up, Helen calls him a coward maybe provoking his nonchalant attitude towards dying, he feels that it would be easier and more soothing for him to just lay in one place and perish then wait around for help, that he believes may never arrive. The topic of rescue is never stated as a sure thing but rather a hope, which symbolizes deliverance from their situation but do to actions in his life will never arrive. While Harry is awaiting his departure certain things come to him and affirm his belief that death will soon swallow him whole. While he lay at his camp vultures begin circling him, which is a universal sign that death is quickly approaching. Helen on the other hand is completely oblivious to how Harry actually feel, she tries comforting harry with uplifting optimism. But his indifference towards death makes Helen’s words