The Importance of Reading Ernest discussion

Emilly's fine suggestion is this month's story. When the first impressions start rolling in please speak up. And please keep checking back so that the discussion can grow as the month goes on.

The good doctor seens to have marital problems, his anger is not about the indians but his wife well who hasent been there .

Marital problems is right. I agree with Emilly. Our Doc seems to have a lot on his plate. Obnoxious people like Dick. And a problem wife. Good job he has Nick.

Another impression I got is the echo of Dick Bolton being introduced right away and the beginning of ‘The Sun Also Rises’ where Robert Cohn opens that novel. As if those characters are focal points in the emotions dealt with. Perhaps more so than the Doctor’s annoyingly religious wife. But I could be wrong.

Dick and Robert are both somewhat detestable persons. Dick is lazy (but a good worker when he feels like it). He closes the gate when he arrives, leaves it open on his way out. He also picks fights. And, yes, he does seem to pick a fight with our Doc. In spite of what wife says. And he’s an ungrateful shit. Doc helped Dick's wife through pneumonia.

The Doc is totally sympathetic (we know Hem loved his father). He doesn’t think the White and Mcnally company will come for the logs. Not worth it. But it’s not in his character to ‘steal’, not even to be accused of it. So, he walks away. Sits with his gun. He, and me with him, would like to shoot Dick B between the eyes. (Incidentally, this could be the weapon our Doc used to kill himself. Was Hem thinking that when he wrote the story?)

Our Doc is obliging towards his condescending wife (another sympathetic trait of his).

Nick, and this is of course one of the Nick Adams stories, clearly prefers to be with his dad, in evidence at the end of the story.

Hemingway seems to have his loves, likes and dislikes completely in place in this excellent relationship-revealing family tale.

Best wishes to all and nice to see the arrival of Barbara.

Thanks Preb and Brad i trully enjoyed your commentary.I continous reading Hemmiway as he views that basic of our society that is relastionship among famlly member living with the mundane and yet so classic and polished

My first impression of the story is sadness. Something feels missing and aching in the Doc, and this suggests sadness to me more than anything else.

its funny because i am fairly new to hemingway so i don't have any history with the characters per se. to me, i thought dick was an instigator but i didn't think he was that far off. he was calling a spade a spade and the doctor didn't like it. what it boils down to is that he really would have been stealing those logs and maybe he was angry that it took a low-life like dick to point it out to him.

and if someone told me to take a hike after having hired me to do something, i'd probably leave the gate open too, in spite.

i'm not married and haven't been with a partner long enough to take apart the doc's marriage to his wife, but i do know what its like to be in a relationship with family, and let's face it...there's always that one person who gets under your skin and drives you mad. but you're stuck with them....

so he's got a nagging wife (most men would probably agree the same about their own) and a guy he knows that is calling him on his own bullshit (and really, isn't it too easy to make dick the bad guy here?), so naturally he wants to spend time with someone who looks up to him.

enter nick.

and what kid at that age doesn't want to hang out with their dad?

like i said, i dont have the history but what i do have is a 'what you see is what you get' when reading this one.

Good stuff, Gio. I feel similarly about the fact that the Doc really is stealing those logs, and that Dick's spot on. And it has to drive the Doc extra crazy having Dick be the one to tell him. I think you're right...it is too easy to make Dick the bad guy. I don't think he's so bad.

Very interesting comment by Gio. And very honest. About his 'history with the characters' and ' not married'.

Since my lengthy 'first impression' (a bit over the top) I've had more thoughts about the relationship between doctor and wife. Why does Hemingway mention that she's a Christian Scientist? Members have a dislike of medication. Hard to swallow for a doctor! Cause for friction in any marriage. So, marital problems is still the main issue, I think. As Emilly indicated. Wife is difficult to live with. For the doctor and for a sensitive boy like Nick.

Also, I chose to take sides with the doctor. Although he could be 'charged with theft'. But only IF the 'White...' company comes to collect the logs. Which is unlikely; not worth it. The name White could be annoying to an Native American, a half-breed! Was that'White-bit' deliberate by Hemingway?

Just the same, I do feel Dick Bolton was trying to get out of paying a bill. And that was his main reason for being so difficult.

Best wishes.

well, wives do nag. and dick is nagging the doc too,in a sense. but nick! nick is thrilled to be with his dad. it's obvious the boy has a love for reading since he's reading outside by a tree. ( i used to do the same as a kid. hell, i do it as an adult). anyway, nick chooses to be with his dad,and his dad is thrilled. even offers to put the book in his pocket so the two "boys" can walk in the woods looking for squirrels. but notice the squirrels are black. aren't most squirrels grey, or brown?? could it be that they are looking for more then squirrels? a racial suggestion here again? maybe when the "colored" beings are found, could dad go back and get his gun that he so thought of using on dick?

any ideas? i love being the devil's advocate,and stirring the pot. anyone??? anyone??? (ferris bueller is sick!)

gary