Hemingway's Use of Nature Imagery

Ernest Hemingway uses the concept of nature to illuminate his themes in "Three Shots", "Three-Day Blow", and "Summer People". Hemingway was always one with nature and always incorporates this love with his other love, writing.

The first story in which Hemingway uses nature to illuminate the theme is in "Three Shots". In this short story, the theme is said to be dark, at night, scared and alone. To illuminate this Hemingway writes, "There was no noise anywhere. Nick felt if he could hear a fox bark or an owl or anything he would be alright."(13). Here the reference to the owl is illuminating the theme that it is in the night. Owls are known to be nocturnal animals. Also owls represent being scared and alone. The most common reference to being alone in the woods or outside is either the chirping of crickets or hooting or owls. The fox as well symbolizes fear. Wild foxes are often times rabid and vicious mammals, therefore making them quite scary when you're young and left alone in a tent.

Hemingway continues the nature imagery by using the beech tree. "You don't ever want to be frightened in the woods, Nick. There is nothing that can hurt you.' 'Not even lightning?' Nick asked. 'No, not even lightning. If there is a thunderstorm get out into the open. Or get under a beech tree. They're never stuck"(15). There was many ways Hemingway could have said for avoiding lightning, such as by simple grounding yourself with rubber, but he chose to use the beech tree as an example to illuminate the nature aspect of the story.