Friday, February 12, 2010
Synthesizing Modernist Art: Modernism in Fiction, Poetry, Essays and Visual Art
In A Moveable Feast, Hemingway mentions his relationships with F Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Ford and the work of Matisse and Picasso. Examine the ways in which Hemingway's art is influenced by his colleagues. You may want to do some quick, informal research on the names and pieces Hemingway mentions if you are not familiar with them already.
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Hemingway's section on F. Scott Fitzgerald felt very reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. The relationship that Hemingway and Fitzgerald shared during the time they knew each other seemed a lot like Nick and Gatsby. From the moment Hemingway and Fitzgerald meet, they seem to get extremely caught up with each other's lives, and while Hemingway is fixated on Fitzgerald he does seem to temporarily forget about the other people in his life, so much so that when he returns from the trip they take together and reunites with his wife, he feels like they were two children who had been "separated" from each other, as if Fitzgerald's ordeals almost stole him away from his ordinary life (Hemingway 175). Why Hemingway might have incorporated these elements is debatable, but I think it's because of his disappointment in how little Fitzgerald achieved, due to the "terrible odds that were against him," such as his wife (176). His section on Fitzgerald isn't just one of his tales from Paris; it's a tribute to the man, and setting it up in such a way that it somewhat resembles a great piece of art by that man honors him. This novel is about him honoring the struggles that he and his fellow writers shared back then, and any in which he allows their work to influence his helps him demonstrate his appreciation for this period and the hard work that he and his peers did.
ReplyDeleteNicely put, Kaare: "His section on Fitzgerald isn't just one of his tales from Paris; it's a tribute to the man, and setting it up in such a way that it somewhat resembles a great piece of art by that man honors him."
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Kaare’s statement. I find his entire post valid except I have to somewhat disagree with one thing. I don’t really see Hemingway completely fixated on Fitzgerald. I find myself seeing instead Fitzgerald fixated on Hemingway and admiring all his attributes, his writing, his lifestyle, his relationships. But I can also see the way Kaare sees it… both elements are proven in the following passage- “I was very curious to see him and I had been working very hard all day and it seemed quite wonderful that here should be Scott Fitzgerald and the great Dunc Chaplin whom I had never heard of but who was now my friend. Scott did not stop talking and since I was embarrassed by what he said—it was all about my writing and how great it was—I kept on looking at him closely and noticed instead of listening.” (150) so I’m not exactly sure what I’m trying to say. Oh well. I thought Kaare’s idea that Hemingway’s mention of Fitzgerald was a tribute was very interesting. Now that I look at it I completely agree. Especially because in the chapter labeled Scott Fitzgerald underneath it reads “His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly’s wings…” (147). It almost seems that this would be something that someone would write on someone’s gravestone…
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Gertrude Stein is undoubtedly a significant character in Hemingway’s writing. And although I can’t exactly entirely prove it, I believe that Stein is the reason why he starts this novel. Remembering the first time they met, Hemingway says “The pictures were exciting and the talk was very good. She talked, mostly, and she told me about modern pictures and about painters—more about them as people than as painters—and she talked about her work.” (17) This brief comment about remarking on the people themselves than their work brings me to think that Hemingway had never before thought to think about who the person actually was behind the work. In this novel, Hemingway tells of his relationships with all writers…which leads us to ask this question—the effect of them, as people as well as their work, on Hemingway as a person and a writer. I also believe that Stein is part of the reason Hemingway writes the way he does. Stein makes such generalized statements and Hemingway says “I was always careful of my language with Miss Stein even when true phrases might have clarified or better expressed a prejudice” (19). Even when Stein mentions that he is a member of the lost generation, Hemingway seems almost offended. Her general statements that Hemingway wishes to make truer is seen in the way he carefully chooses how to express so that it remains true (at least in his eyes). Maybe this is why some statements in this novel can be seen as offensive? Like Kaare explains with Fitzgerald I believe that Hemingway includes Stein in his writing because he admires her—and to some extent indebted to her. She seems to be the main force driving Hemingway to write. I could be completely wrong with all of this…
While I think Kaare and Emma's posts are certainly insightful, I wanted to talk about something a little different. Perhaps not one relationship in specific but rather Ernest Hemingway's relationships with his collegues as a whole. What I found fascinating was the fact that his peers - although writers - not only influenced his writing with direct literary criticism, but often would influence his life, which would in turn influence his writing.
ReplyDeleteFor example, even before we are officially introduced to Ezra Pound, Hemingway writes about his advice.
"I was trying to remember what Exra Pound had told me about Ford, that I must never be rude to him, that I must remember that he only lied when he was very tired, that he was really a good writer and that he had been through very bad domestic troubles" (85-86)
While Pound's advice is not directly literary, it does in fact come to influence his writing. Because of Pound's advice, he finds himself trying to talk to Ford (despite his will to pull away). Through talking to Ford, Hemingway is able to come to look at the world from a slightly different perspective, as we see at the end of the chapter when he calls "Alestair Crowley, Hillaire Belloc" (88). It is this kind of experience that allows a writer to grow - to expand their ideas. In looking at something from more than one perspective - as I believe Hemingway is trying to say here, it gives itself to growth as a writer.
I think we see a see a similar thing happen early on in the novel as Hemingway talks to Miss Stein. Hemingway is astounded when Miss Stein talks about the 'lost generation explaining that "You're all a lost generation, exactly as the garage keeper said" (29). After hearing this, although it was not direct literary criticism (such as her advice nt to write anything inaccrochable), Hemmingway finds himself pondering the thought - even led to disagree with Miss Stein. "I thought of Miss Stein and Sherwood Anderson and egotism and mental laziness versus discipline and I thought who is calling who a lost generation" (30). Such ideas posed by his collegues allow him to expand his thoughts and thus grow in his writing. In this way, often their non-literary advice/comments leads to personal growth for Hemingway as a writer. We later see that Hemingway even begins to write about this topic.
To clarify the last sentence I meant that Hemingway later writes about the topic of the 'lost generation' but with a slightly different perspective from Miss Stein. But, it was Miss Stein who allowed him to even come to this thought in the first place because of this comment.
ReplyDeleteIn this way his collegues are able to influences his life and stimulate his thoughts which in turn influence his writing...
What I found very interesting about their relationships, was that Hemingway chose to describe the different characters very detailed and he went in-depth with his observations of the characters features. Hemingway describes these characters idealistically, despite their eccentric personalities. Similarly, in The Great Gatsby, Nick seems blinded by Gatsby's possessions and his appearance to judge his actions. Nick, along with Hemingway, create a strong bonded relationship with the eccentric characters. In each novel, later on, Hemingway and Gatsby realized the strangeness in their friends even though they do not formally admit it.
ReplyDeleteHemingway writes, "Scott was lying in bed to conserve his strength for his battle against the disease...he looked like a little dead crusader. I was getting tired of the literary life, if this was the literary life that I was leading...I felt the dead loneliness that comes at the end of everyday that is wasted in your life" (165-166). Again there is a connection with the loneliness that Hemingway felt that was also described by Nick about Gatsby.
To begin, I absolutely agree that Ms. Stein has a huge influence on the opinions and writing of Hemmingway. While she is quite blunt with him and brutally honest, you can tell that he has some deep reverence for her as a person and an author. He constantly goes to her for opinions and advice. For example, after meeting Wyndham Lewis for the first time, he says, "About a week afterwards I met Ms. Stein and told her I'd met Wyndham Lewis and asked her if she had ever met him" (110). She tells him that she thinks of him as a "measuring worm", and immediately he says, "So I thought of him as the Measuring Worm" (110). This shows that he greatly values what she thinks, and incorporates it into his own life. Even after she said that his piece "Up in Michigan" was not suitable to be sold, he said "I had never had it copied because she said it was inaccrochable" (74). This further proves that not only his opinions, but his writing as well, is greatly affected by Gertrude Stein.
ReplyDeleteTo go off of Grace's idea, I feel that the same kind of relationship can be seen between Hemmingway and Pound. Grace mentioned that Hemmingway referred to Pound's advice at the beginning of the novel. I think that he was doing this because of the great respect he had for Ezra Pound. He talks of him later in the book and has nothing but good things to say about him, "His own writing, when he hit it right, was so perfect, and he was so sincere in his mistakes and so enamored of his errors, and so kind to people that I always thought of him as a sort of saint. He was also irascible but so perhaps have been many saints" (108). His description of Pound is idyllic in nature, and he simply gushes about his amazing writing abilities and personal qualities. When a writer likes another writer so such extent, he will use techniques from him or her that he thinks are skillful, and I feel that here is a case of this. Even when he disagrees with Pound, or finds a problem with his character, he finds a way to make it tolerable, "We never argued about these things because I kept my mouth shut about things I did not like. If a man liked his friends' painting or writing, I thought it was probably like those people who like their families, and it was not polite to criticize them" (107-108). This level of respect, which he clearly shows to both Pound and Stein, lead him to heed their advice and thus reflect it in his writing.
I also completely agree with Kaare’s statement, “His section on Fitzgerald isn’t just one of his tales from Paris, it’s a tribute to man, and setting it up in a way that it somewhat resembles a great piece of art by man that honors him”. I feel that Hemingway’s encounters with Fitzgerald praise Fitzgerald’s talent and ease with writing, but also display his downfall, or the “terrible odds that were against him”, almost like Gatsby himself. I also agree with Emma that Hemingway is not completely fixated on Fitzgerald, but simply admires his work. In fact, there are times when Hemingway seems bothered by Fitzgerald, and is uninspired by him. “I was getting tired of this literary life that I was leading, and already missed not working, and I felt the loneliness that comes at the end of every day that is wasted in your life. I was very tired of Scott and of this silly comedy…” (Hemingway 165-166). However, Hemingway later claims, “You can not be angry with Scott more than you could be angry with someone who was crazy…” (166). I think Hemingway possibly respects Fitzgerald’s ability to attain success and his talent despite adversity in his life. He also seems to admire Fitzgerald’s character and modesty. “…He had the shyness about it that all non-conceited writers have when they have done something very fine” (154). I don’t think either writer is completely fixated on another, but admire each other’s attributes and talents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Beth’s comment, “His peers- although writers- not only influenced his writing with direct literary criticism, but would often influence his life, which would in turn, influence his writing”. Without experiences in which Hemingway interacts with others, he would have no inspiration or influence for his writing. This reminded me of a quote towards the beginning of the book- “There are so many sorts of hunger. In the spring there are more. But that’s gone now. Memory is hunger” (57). I could be wrong, but I think Hemingway sees the desire to write something powerful as a type of hunger, or a driving force to succeed. Memories the only thing that allow Hemingway to envision his writing, therefore make his writing possible. Without influence or any experience with the writers he mentions in his novel, he would have little inspiration or hunger to write. I think Gertrude Stein contributes to Hemingway’s hunger to write by both influencing him with direct literary criticism and influencing his life. For example, as Emma said, Hemingway is excited by Stein’s paintings and claims her home is “…like one of the best rooms in the finest museum except there was a big fireplace and it was warm and comfortable…” (13-14). Additionally, she gives him direct literary criticism by telling Hemingway, “‘you mustn’t write anything that is inaccrochable’”.
ReplyDeleteI find all of your comments very interesting and valid, but I want to go back to Kaare's original focus-Hemingway's relationship with F Scott Fitzgerald. When Hemingway spoke of Pound, James, Joyce, Ford, Stein and his other colleagues, their descriptions and contributions were blended into his chapters. However, Hemingway separates his thoughts and memories of Fitzgerald into an entire chapter. He also begins with a quote “His talent was as natural s the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly’s wing. At one time he understood it no more than the butterfly did and he did not know when it was brushed or marred. Later he became conscious of his damaged winds and of their construction and he learned to think and could not fly and more because the love of flight was gone and he could only remember when it had been effortless” (148). Right off the bat, I knew that Hemingway’s relationship was the most influential to his writing. So here is my first question: What do you think the quote means? How come we don’t find out who wrote the quote? What does it say about Fitzgerald and what does it signify in A Moveable Feast?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found that Hemingway’s writing style changed when he spoke about Fitzgerald. He took much more time to explain fitzgerald’s looks and go into extensive detail about fitzgerald’s life. The first few pages of the chapter are dedicated to creating a base for the stories and experiences that will follow. I don’t know if it was just me, but Hemingway usually refrains from spending pages talking about the same subject-his tone is generally sparse and limited, but when Hemingway talks about Fitzgerald, there seems to be a different element to his writing. This idea isn’t fully developed, but it is a crucial observation…any thoughts?
I'm sorry to always switch topics but I just realized something that I'm actually really excited about!! :)
ReplyDeleteEarly on Miss Stein mentions this lost generation. To this Hemingway, after pondering, comes to the conlusion that in reality one generation is like another when he mentions that "all generations were lost by something and always had been and always would be" (30).
What I think is fascinating is that Hemingway's relationship with less experienced writers tend to mirror those of Miss Stein. In this way the generation lines seem to be blurred - and reflect in that way one generations is like the next. (similar idea - althought not exactly - to that of the 'lost generation')
Miss Stein, while mentoring Hemingway looks down upon him at times critisizing his ideas and likes. When she snaps "Don't argue with me, Hemingway" (29), it is one of her many times in which she uses a scolding tone with him. Other ideas such as "Don't be silly" (19) tend to be common. Yet at the same time we see she cares for him and when she advises him not to write 'inaccrochable' pieces.
Not too much later in the book he finds himself talking to a man who wishes to write yet is much more of an ameteur than Heminway himself. He, in the same blunt toner and manner that Miss Stein had used to speak to him, criticizes the young writer. "You shouldn't write if you can't write" (94), Hemingway tells him outright. Yet while he does criticise him he also gives him some advice, without letting his own guard down (exactly what Miss Stein appears to do) "If you can't write why don't you learn to write criticism?" (95), he states. Hemingway, like Miss Stein helps the young fellow - yet in a way that lets the want-to-be-writer know that Hemingway is still the superior.
In this way I find it fasciating that the generations our overlaping within the novel itself! So I have a quesiton for everyone: Do you think this is something that just occured by chance or something that Hemmingway purposely crafted and included in the book so the quote on generations and these instances would connect?
Going off what I just blogged about (if that’s even a phrase) on the other question, I believe that the notions of a new found imagination and creativity are commonly found in “A Moveable Feast”. To me, after reading up on the “colleagues” of Hemmingway, it would seem that it was Ezra Pound who influenced Hemmingway in this sense. Ezra himself stated “compose in the sequence of the musical phrase, not in the sequence of the metronome” (Wikipedia), with the metronome being a constant setting. By deviating from this consistent form, Ezra hints that he lets the “musical phrase” or “imagination” drive his writing, not uniformity. It is in this sense that Hemmingway follows in Ezra’s footsteps, by letting imagination and creativity determine the outcome of the story, not consistency. It is also apparent that Ezra learned this tact from HIS mentor, Robert Frost, who is most widely, knows for his poem “The Road Not Taken” which impresses the importance of imagination. Though some believe just the opposite, Frost himself believes that it is conformity, which will lead to nowhere, and imagination, which will thrive. Ultimately, Hemmingway’s strategy dates back to Robert Frost, and in doing so, his road less traveled is the one of imagination.
ReplyDeleteI'm also "going off something that i just blogged about"...This idea of adjusting or transforming a piece of work based on criticism or influence...what i posted about on the other question was the idea of changing or editing something an artist has created or an author has written in order to make it appealing to the public and ultimately sell it and make a profit off of it..(end of page 155)...At that point in the novel, Hemingway relates the adjusting of writing in order for it to be salable to whoring...However, by the end of the book,he is saying"Paris was never to be the same again although it was always Paris and you changed as it changed."( Hemingway 211). I understand that this type of change is different, i guess, the change of a place and a person changing with it as opposed to a person changing in response to influence by other people, however i'm not sure...
ReplyDeleteI guess what i am trying to say is, i don't know if the authors that Hemingway met with and became friends with, truly influenced his writing directly. Yes, i think they impacted it in some way, and perhaps gave him ideas for writing or opened up new opportunities for him, but i dont think they affected him in such a way that he changed his writing style accordingly...
just a thought and different perspective on the question.