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To Have and Have Not
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To Have and Have Not by Hemingway - Feb BOTM
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This is one of the few Hemingways that I have left to read, so I will try to read this one.
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2. What is the main theme of Hemingway's story? that those that have take advantage of those that do not. Consequences are a result of class division.
3. What reservations make Harry Morgan not smuggle the first group of Cubans into the Florida Keys? "he realizes they are being taken advantage of by the "ring leader".
4. What drives Morgan back to illegal activities? need to take care of his family
5. How are communism and revolution depicted in the novel? favorably
6. What are "the rales" and why do they warrant so much discussion in the novel?
7. Why does Hemingway spend so long painting vignettes of the yachtsmen? Is it pure voyeurism? The riches of those that "have".
8. Is Wesley correct calling Harry Morgan inhuman? no
9. How are lawyers depicted in the novel? Does "Bee-lips" seem an exception? Bee-lips is engaging in illegal activity in which he gets a "cut".
10. What is Helène Bradley's role in the novel? she represents amorality and deception
1. What is meant by Hemingway's title To Have and Have Not? In the beginning I assumed it strictly referred to those that have money, resources, influence and power versus those that needed to scrounge to survive. However, as the stories progressed it became clear that there was an added psychological element also. Few characters had peace of mind but some at least knew what they were striving for.
2. What is the main theme of Hemingway's story?
The largest theme was the class comparison between those that had wealth and power and the desperation of those that did not. There were lesser themes about individuality versus common cause and some interesting gender dynamics.
3. What reservations make Harry Morgan not smuggle the first group of Cubans into the Florida Keys?
He realizes that they have been deceived and sold themselves into a situation that would likely get themselves deported back to Cuba or worse.
4. What drives Morgan back to illegal activities?
Desperation to feed his wife and daughters.
5. How are communism and revolution depicted in the novel?
It was interesting to hear about the perceived difference in the US military men between communists and radicals. The radicals were not anarchists. Well, everyone was so intent on "cooling someone" or "taking it" that it was not clear that there was much actual thinking behind the labels but clearly there were those that believed in radical change and those that believed in a political system that had a socialist philosophical backbone. Hemingway appeared to support the need for radical change in both Cuba and by support of the labor movement in the US.
6. What are "the rales" and why do they warrant so much discussion in the novel?
The old rale was a reference to syphilis and how it was passed from one person to another. Some of the military men seemed to believe you could get it from open wounds while fighting which was probably a way of covering up the transmission of the disease through homosexual encounters. Getting it from a woman seemed to be viewed as "normal".
7. Why does Hemingway spend so long painting vignettes of the yachtsmen? Is it pure voyeurism?
I think he needed to present in greater detail the deep corruption of wealth and power and how it brought no one peace of mind. The stories take place during the great depression and a large part of the population was desperate. There was a need to contrast this desperation with those that were taking advantage of the economic situation.
8. Is Wesley correct calling Harry Morgan inhuman? Harry is not a very polite man. He is a bully and very judgmental, especially along racist lines. He is not inhuman however.
9. How are lawyers depicted in the novel? Does "Bee-lips" seem an exception?
Lawyers are scum who bridge the gap between those that have and those that have not, preying on both classes if they possibly can. Bee-lips was not an exception.
10. What is Helène Bradley's role in the novel?
She seemed to represent the loss of self esteem that comes with living with a man for his money. She was in direct contrast to Harry's wife who loved Harry. Helène craved sexual attention from "anyone" and some men appeared to find this a wonderful characteristic and others thought that it made her disgusting.
1. The Haves are the rich, entitled yacht owners, who have attained their wealth unethically and are not as happy as one would assume. They are portrayed as being wasteful and decadent. The Have-Nots are the poor, who try to live responsibly but who often have to compromise their principles in order to provide for their families.2. The main theme is that those who have money have power over those who do not. There is admiration for rugged individualism.
3. He realises that they have been deceived.
4. He cannot provide for his family otherwise, and he rather despises those who prefer to be starving but ethical.
5. He believes that revolution is necessary and communism is possibly the vehicle to obtain it. He was much influenced by his experiences in the Spanish Civil War. In terms of education and health and culture it seems to me that he was right, communism brought a much better standard of living for the poor in Cuba.
6. "The rales" was a term for syphilis, which was widespread.
7. Gail answered this question comprehensively. Hemingway did move in the circles of yachtsmen and big game hunters with more wealth than sense.
8. Harry Morgan is racist, violent, cynical and disillusioned, which makes him very much a human! But he is also brave and cool headed in an emergency, unlike most humans.
9. Lawyers capitalise on the misfortunes of others.
10. Again, I cannot add anything to Gail's analysis.
This was an odd book, I was repulsed by it mostly but I imagine it may have been a fairly accurate depiction of this specific time and place. 1. What is meant by Hemingway's title To Have and Have Not?
the rich vs. the poor! Poor are compelled into unsavory activities due to lack of means and opportunities.
2. What is the main theme of Hemingway's story?
Poverty can compel behavior viewed by society as bad, but they may not have a choice to do otherwise. In this case, when the charter fishing industry was destroyed during the depression, people were forced to do illegal activities with their boats.
3. What reservations make Harry Morgan not smuggle the first group of Cubans into the Florida Keys?
He did not want to do anything criminal.
4. What drives Morgan back to illegal activities?
He no longer had a choice once he was left destitute when he was robbed.
5. How are communism and revolution depicted in the novel? I was surprised that they were viewed as a plausible means to compel change.
6. What are "the rales" and why do they warrant so much discussion in the novel?
std? This is a good question, I have no idea why he focused on it.
7. Why does Hemingway spend so long painting vignettes of the yachtsmen? Is it pure voyeurism?
I think it was to provide a stark counterpoint to his main swarthy, destitute and unkept characters.
8. Is Wesley correct calling Harry Morgan inhuman? I think so. Perhaps he was driven to certain choices, but he was cold. I don't think this is redeemed by his passing thoughts of his wife as he was dying. She's the only one that thought he was a dreamboat.
9. How are lawyers depicted in the novel? Does "Bee-lips" seem an exception?
Evil scum! They retain a bad reputation to this day, I should know, I am one. :)
10. What is Helène Bradley's role in the novel?
She is spiritually bankrupt, and is a sad sack. She is immersed in deception and hopelessness, and does not feel loved.
I finished, and I paired it with watching 2 adaptations -- one a great movie but a terrible rendition of the book, one an okay movie but a good rendition of the book. I also read Lauren Bacall's memoir with it. Overall I enjoyed the entire project.
1. What is meant by Hemingway's title To Have and Have Not?The simple answer is all about money. But I think it goes deeper and that it is about finding contentment with oneself. Peace. Calm.
2. What is the main theme of Hemingway's story?
The most prominent theme discusses class struggles, but for me the more interesting theme involved the discussions of gender.
3. What reservations make Harry Morgan not smuggle the first group of Cubans into the Florida Keys?
He doesn't like that the man who hired him has seemingly deceived the people trying to come into the US.
4. What drives Morgan back to illegal activities?
The (tourism) fishing trade collapses because of the war, and he is desperate for money to keep his family fed and housed.
5. How are communism and revolution depicted in the novel?
Hemingway seemed to think they might be able to enact change.
6. What are "the rales" and why do they warrant so much discussion in the novel?
Syphilis. There were misunderstandings about its transmission. But it also seems to imply that some of the military men were homosexual and trying to cover it.
7. Why does Hemingway spend so long painting vignettes of the yachtsmen? Is it pure voyeurism?
It illustrates the differences and amplifies the struggles of so many others.
8. Is Wesley correct calling Harry Morgan inhuman?
Harry is often unlikable and judgmental. He is racist. He is brash and arrogant. Often he is a bully. These are all character flaws that are realistic and found in many of us.
9. How are lawyers depicted in the novel? Does "Bee-lips" seem an exception?
Lawyers are seen as the worst of people who take advantage of both the haves and the have nots. Unfortunately this still seems to be the view of many today.
10. What is Helène Bradley's role in the novel?
Helene shows the kindness of Harry's wife. She is interested in money and uses her sexuality to get it.
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Diane wrote: "I enjoyed reading all your answers. I will be watching the Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart movie."Did you watch yet -- good movie, but not a good adaptation.
1. What is meant by Hemingway's title To Have and Have Not?
2. What is the main theme of Hemingway's story?
3. What reservations make Harry Morgan not smuggle the first group of Cubans into the Florida Keys?
4. What drives Morgan back to illegal activities?
5. How are communism and revolution depicted in the novel?
6. What are "the rales" and why do they warrant so much discussion in the novel?
7. Why does Hemingway spend so long painting vignettes of the yachtsmen? Is it pure voyeurism?
8. Is Wesley correct calling Harry Morgan inhuman?
9. How are lawyers depicted in the novel? Does "Bee-lips" seem an exception?
10. What is Helène Bradley's role in the novel?