Analysis of Nick’s Father in Ernest Hemingway's Indian Camp Essay

First of all, Nick has to survive for days without any family to support him. Nick got a letter from his father. Nick is hoping that he can escape the labor camp and save his father but it is hard without family and knowing they can be in danger. This relates to not having family to support him because his mom is still in London and his father was taken to another labor camp while Nick is in a camp. A quote that helps support Nick’s love to his father, "Oh, he'll care" Nick said. "I'm going to be waiting for him up in his bedroom, and I'm not going to say a word about how I got there until he promises help my father." (Roland Smith Pg. 214) Nick will go at great lengths to save his father even if it mean risking his life. This

The opening lines of the book, give the audience an idea of how we are going to understand Nick’s descriptions of everything that happens throughout the novel. Nick presents himself as a wise, and intelligent young man. Over the course of the novel, we learn that Nick is not always the smart and “wise young man” he wants to be portrayed as. Nick sometimes comes across as snobby to the audience, and may have begun his narration with a childhood lesson, from his father, so that the audience would think that he is a nice, young gentleman, who loves his family.

As a main character we may get a different impression of Nick since we are now analysing his personality and how he interacts with the other characters in the story. We read numerous pronouns in the first chapter, ‘I’, suggesting that he is self-indulgent and pompous. For instance, once at Gatsby’s party, Nick only kisses Jordan Baker because he ‘had no girl’, conveying he only kissed her because there was no one else there. This makes Nick seem selfish and arrogant as he is only thinking of himself. To the reader, we

The reader receives the impression that Nick’s self analysis of his own character tries to influence their opinion of him. Therefore the reader becomes inclined to question his judgements. Nick Carraway’s narration takes the reader into his confidence; he describes significant experiences in an almost voyeuristic way. Nicks narrative style uses elaborate and very mature vocabulary that gives extra depth and description to his account; drawing the reader further into the story. Additionally Nick’s tone creates a sense of authority and immediacy which encourages the reader to read on.

At one point in the novel, Nick says that "human sympathy has its limits" (143).  Even the narrator of the story, who has less

Nick starts the story by disclosing to us that he doesn't condemn individuals. He says it is a characteristic passed on to him by his dad. Nick originates from an upper white collar class foundation. His dad used to instruct him to recollect the focal points he had before condemning. 3.

The author uses Nick Carraway as the narrator of the story to describe the thoughts and feeling of Nick about everything he experiences for the purpose of contrasting his actions to his ideals.This stand, however controversial it may seem, is in total coherence with the whole story. Even though Nick constantly judges the actions of those around him, he chooses to involve himself with those he so greatly despise. For some people he may appear to be greatly tolerant, however he crosses the line between

2. Nick explains that he is "inclined to reserve all judgements" and that he is "privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men" meaning people often feel comfortable telling him private things. He tells us that the reason he does not pass judgement on people is that his father was that way. He also tells us that he comes from an upper middle class background.

Importance: Though Nick is financially stable, he should stay humble and not criticize the less fortunate, and it is also a reference to Nick’s morals. His father states that Nick should not be arrogant and think about what he has and where he came from compared to others.

Hemingway's "Indian Camp" concerns Nick Adams' journey into the unknown to ultimately experience and witness the full cycle of birth and death. Although Nick's experience is a major theme in the story, cultural inequality also is an issue that adds to the the story's narrative range. Throughout this short story, there are many examples of racial domination between Nick's family and the Indians. Dr. Adams' and Uncle George's racist behavior toward the Native Americans are based on the history of competition between Caucasians and America's indigenous peoples.

Before one can learn, one must be confused. It’s no surprise that a coming of age character starts out naïve and inexperienced. When Nick first introduces himself, he appears very innocent. “In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice,” he says. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1). Nick naively claims that he is a man

Nick's father does not want to answer his wife’s questions, and when he does, he lies to her. He assumes that she will not understand his reasoning for the argument he just had outside. In addition, his wife's religious demands for him to not lose his temper show that she does not want him to be a stereotypical aggressive and protective male. Also, Christian Science religion does not believe in medicine, which means that she has no respect for her husband’s work. Nick's father decides to go hunting, where he can express his masculinity. When Nick decides to go with him, Nick is also showing an interest in male to male interaction over male to female interaction with his mother. We see Nick at the end of the story, still calling his father “daddy” and wanting to follow him around. If the family would interact more, then it is probable that Nick would be able to develop more psychologically. He is still being treated like a little child, so he is still acting like one.

Everyone is born to live and to die. People go through life fearing the inevitable which in the end is always death. Ernest Hemingway wrote two short stories that examine this idea of life and death through the use of a variety of different symbols. In both “Indian Camp” and “The Killers”, Hemingway examines these ideas by putting forth a character named Nick Adams. Nick Adams develops as a character throughout these stories ultimately learning lessons about life and death that will better his understanding of the world. Nick goes from having an imperfect immature understanding of death in the “Indian Camp” to a more mature and grown up understanding in “The Killers”. In “Indian Camp”, Nick believes that the only way one will die is if they kill themselves. Nicks father also brings Nick to the Indian Camp where his father will deliver a baby. Nicks father wants Nick to watch the birth and learn the importance of life, but instead the procedure takes a turn for the worst and Nick becomes disturbed by what he sees. In “The Killers”, Nicks understanding of death becomes more understood when he notices how Ole Anderson has given up on life and has ultimately taught Nick the lesson that death is inevitable. By his use of light and characters lying down in bed facing the wall in both “The Killers” and “Indian Camp”, Hemingway is attempting to show us how Nick develops a better understanding of light and death.

Ernest Hemingway wrote many largely autobiographical stories about a fictional character, Nick Adams. In each of the Nick Adams stories, Hemingway looks back on and displays his relationships throughout his life. By telling stories about key points in his life, Hemingway draws a strong picture of Nick Adams relationship with his mother, first girlfriend and most predominantly his father. Now, as a father, Nick makes connections between the past and present … the father and self. He also fears connection because he doesn’t know if his image of his father, and the part of the father which lives within him, should be embraced or killed.

In "Indian Camp" we meet Nick as he joins his father to help a pregnant Indian woman in labor. Nick's father, a doctor, brings him to