concerns during the 1930s
regarding his existence as a
writer and his life in general.
Hemingway remarked in Green
Hills that "politics, women,
drink, money and ambition"
damage American writers. His
fear that his own acquaintances
with rich people might harm
his integrity as a writer
becomes evident in this story.
The text in italics also reveals
Hemingway's fear of leaving
his own work of life
unfinished.
In broader terms, The Snows of
Kilimanjaro should be viewed
as an example of an author of
the "Lost Generation", who
experienced the world wars
and the war in Spain, which led
them to question moral and
philosophy. Hemingway, in
particular, found himself in a
moral vacuum when he felt
alienated from the church,
which was closely affiliated
with Franco in Spain, and
which he felt obliged to
distance himself from. As a
result, he came up with his own
code of human conduct: a
mixture of hedonism and
sentimental humanism.
THE MARVELLOUS THING
IS THAT IT’S painless," he
said. "That's how you know
when it starts."
"Is it really?"
"Absolutely. I'm awfully sorry
about the odor though. That
must bother you."
"Don't! Please don't."
"Look at them," he said. "Now
is it sight or is it scent that
brings them like that?"
The cot the man lay on was in
the wide shade of a mimosa
tree and as he looked out past
the shade onto the glare of the
plain there were three of the
big birds squatted obscenely,
while in the sky a dozen more
sailed, making quick-moving
shadows as they passed.
JOY FEELINGS | DECEMBER ISSUE
250