What is the significance of relationships with other people? Why do our conversations define and contribute to our life so much? This week’s readings were about four different acquaintances of Ernest Hemingway. Some friendships were very solid, some were only bearable, and some had to come to an end.

In “A Birth of a New School”, Hemingway recalls a conversation he had with a critic named Harold. While writing in his home café, Hemingway is interrupted by this man and badgered with questions and desperate attempts to strike up a conversation. Being short in temper, Ernest did not take this disruption lightly and did not hesitate in making his feelings clear. However, after talking, unwillingly, for some time, the two see eye to eye on the definition of their relationship. Although this is not something I would define as "friendship", it is a relationship that we can all identify with.

“With Pascin at The Dome” describes the odd relationship between Hemingway and a drunk painter, Pascin. While drinking at The Dome, Hemingway is caught up –uncomfortably – in a conversation between Pascin and a model, although prostitute would be more fitting. Pascin is very laid back and jokes about letting Hemingway have sex with her. This soon becomes too awkward for Hemingway to bear, so he leaves as soon as the opportunity arose. Sadly, this type of relationship is all too familiar with most of us as well, but it's something that we must all face daily.

“Ezra Pound and His Bel Esprit” is almost charming compared to the last chapter of this week’s reading. Ezra Pound is a fantastic writer and dear friend of Ernest. He is troubled by the fact that a talented poet, TS Eliot, is stuck working in a bank, and therefore never has time to write. He along with Hemingway and other begin raising money so that Eliot can quit the bank and pursue his true calling. The friendship and dedication between the two are admirable, and I love the fact that Hemingway trusts and believes in Ezra enough to help him.

Lastly, in “A Strange Enough Ending”, Hemingway’s long time friendships with Miss Stein comes to an end, and strange it was. Before leaving on a trip, Gertrude asks Hemingway to stop in and tell her goodbye. While waiting, Hemingway hears sounds he has never heard before. From the context you can assume that Gertrude is engaging in intercourse (with a woman). This is too much for Hemingway, and he leaves promptly. His friendship is never rekindled and he has no desire to pursue any new ones. I feel that this event showed Hemingway another side of Gertrude and he was not willing or ready to see. Although it is a tad dramatic, Ernest is traumatized and feels as if he cannot trust anyone like that again. Thus ending the friendship that began the whole book.

 

There are many ways to describe hunger: hunger of the stomach, hunger of the soul, hunger of the mind. During his life, Hemingway experienced every type of "hunger" possible. Throughout the next three chapters of "A Moveable Feast", he describes these times and the troubles and revelations that come along with these desires.

Hemingway explains hunger as a "good discipline". He recounts times when he visited the Luxembourg Museum, and how his senses were heightened and his thoughts deepened due to feeling belly-empty, the feeling when there is nothing left in you but your thoughts. Because he was low on income, Hemingway became used to this feeling. What money he did make, he spent on things other than food and this was a poor decision. The thoughts that you have while hungry are not sane thoughts, but over-illuminated ones that wouldn't make sense otherwise.

In "The End of Avocation", Hemingway is discussing hunger of the mind. For some time during his life, Hemingway was enthralled with horse racing and gambling. After he decided that this was not a good hobby to have, he found himself poor in hobbies and things to keep his mind busy. This creates a longing for something to occupy the space that gambling once held in his life and the time that his mind spent consumed with the statistics and excitement of racing, thus creating hunger of the mind.

Lastly, in "Ford Maddox Ford and the Devil's Disciple", I believe that Hemingway is describing the hunger of the soul. He recounts of a conversation he had with Ford Maddox Ford, a vile and arrogant writer, regarding what it means to be a gentleman. During this chat, Ford "cuts" at a man who he assumes to be a fellow writer. This type of behavior is that of a corrupted soul, in my opinion. Anyone who brags about being evil is lacking in heart, and therefore hungry in the soul. However, at the end of the chapter, Hemingway finds out that the man who Ford "cuts" is actually the "wickedest man in the world". I think that this will -hopefully- open up to a new story further into the book.

Ernest Hemingway was a true artist, not in the conventional term, but as a painter with words. This week I read the next three installments of "The Moveable Feast", and I must say I was as equally enthralled as I was the last time. Mr. Hemingway has a way -in effort to not sound redundant- of making the most mundane situations, people, and places the most interesting.

Chapter 3, entitled "Shakespeare and Company", is about a rental library and bookstore in Paris, owned by Sylvia Beach. Although he is poor and doesn't have the money at the time, Sylvia allows him to take as many books as he wants. This kindness overwhelms him, as you can see throughout the passage. He takes great care in describing her personality and physical characteristics, and it is easy to see that he is fond of her.

In "People of the Seine", Hemingway recalls a conversation that he had with a woman stall-keeper about English books. The Tour D'Argent restaurant also offered rooms above the eatery, and whenever guests left books behind they would be put into a bookstall to be sold. English books were sold cheap because they were bound poorly and therefore had no value. Also, in Chapter 4, Hemingway tells of the fishermen in the Seine and how beautiful the rivers were.

"A False Spring" is about the trivial time between winter and spring when the seasons are just at the brink of switching. When spring came people were the happiest. The cold rain and wind were put behind them, and they had only warm weather and nice breezes to look forward to. He also recounts of going to the horse races with his wife, Hadley, and how they had gained enough money gambling to go to an expensive restaurant, Michaud's. I think that he is comparing his life to the seasons. Since he is "poor", their life is a constant struggle to make ends meet. Spring is like a false sense of hope - that things are going to get better soon. And I think that's what we are all trying to do in life: give ourselves enough hope to push through each day.

Reading The Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway, reminds me of just how much time has changed from his generation to mine. His writings of the most simple things, like drinking at a small cafe, are/were so eloquent and full of passion. Although I have only read the first three chapters, I have thoroughly enjoyed them - and that's not something that happens often.

 In "A Good Cafe on the Place St.-Michael, Hemingway is retelling a story of an average day in Paris as a writer. His life seems carefree, since he is youthful and in love. He is doing a job that is consumed with the thing he loves, and in that aspect I am jealous of him. Although it was a simpler time in the early 1900's, it seems as though life now is overly complicated in every respect. I guess that's why he took the time to appreciate the little things in life, such as the trees in the winter, or the warmth and comfort of a fire in a studio apartment. Thus, he created beautiful works of art in the process of admiring the world as he saw it.

In "Miss Stein Instructs", we are introduced to Hemingway's odd, but intriguing comrade. The relationship that Hemingway has with his dear friend, Gertrude Stein, creates a fascinating atmosphere.  Maybe because Hemingway is such an interesting man, or maybe because Miss Stein is such an eccentric character - either way, I long to know both of them better. Though Miss Stein is not "normal", Hemingway connects with her and cherishes her friendship. He recounts several afternoons that he spent in her studio apartment, talking about everything from sex to art, and every person that each of them came in contact with.

Although Miss Stein and Hemingway were dear friends, there was a difference in age. As told by Hemingway in "Une Generation Perdue", Gertrude feels as if Hemingway's generation is "lost". Even though Hemingway disagrees with this statement, he decides to leave it be, but agrees within his own home that Gertrude can "talk a lot of rot sometimes". I'm not sure about Hemingway's and his peers, but I think Gertrude's explanation fits me. Maybe that makes me "lost" since I have no idea where I'm going in my life, but maybe it also makes me a dreamer because all I can do is dream about my future.