"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Hemingway

• "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1936.
• The story explores themes of regret, wasted talent, love, and death, set against the backdrop of an African safari.

Plot Summary

• Harry, a writer, is on safari in Africa with his wife Helen.
• He is suffering from an infection in his leg that is rapidly worsening due to neglect.
• As death approaches, Harry reflects on his life, particularly regretting his failure to fulfill his potential as a writer.
• He dwells on the experiences he meant to write about but never did, often blaming his wealthy wife, Helen, for his lack of motivation.
• Helen cares for Harry, despite his bitterness and resentment towards her.
• Harry's physical suffering intertwines with his mental anguish, blurring the lines between reality, memory, and hallucination.
• He remembers past experiences, including his time in Paris and on the Eastern Front during the war.
• As Harry weakens, he becomes more delirious, alternating between moments of lucidity and resentment.
• In his delirium, Harry experiences a vision of being transported by a plane over the African landscape to the snow-covered peak of Kilimanjaro.
• The story ends with Harry's death, though the exact moment is ambiguous.

Characters

• Harry: A writer who is dying of an infection. He is bitter, regretful, and self-critical, lamenting his wasted talent and blaming his comfortable life for his creative stagnation.
• Helen: Harry's wealthy wife, who is devoted to him. She is kind and patient, enduring Harry's insults and taking care of him in his final days.
• The Pilot: Represents death and the journey beyond.

Setting

• The story is primarily set on the plains of Africa, where Harry and Helen are on safari.
• Flashbacks and memories transport the reader to various locations, including Paris, the Eastern Front, and the mountains of Europe.
• Kilimanjaro itself serves as a symbolic backdrop, representing both the beauty and the unattainable nature of Harry's artistic aspirations.

Themes

• Wasted Talent: The central theme revolves around Harry's regret over not fulfilling his potential as a writer. He feels he has squandered his talent by becoming complacent and living a life of luxury.
• Death and Mortality: The story explores the process of dying, both physically and mentally. Harry's confrontation with his mortality forces him to confront his regrets and the meaning of his life.
• Love and Relationships: The complex relationship between Harry and Helen is a key theme. Their love is tested by Harry's bitterness and resentment, but Helen remains devoted to him until the end.
• Regret and Remorse: Harry is consumed by regret over the stories he never wrote and the experiences he failed to capture in his work.
• The Corrupting Influence of Wealth: Harry believes that his comfortable lifestyle has made him soft and prevented him from pursuing his artistic goals with the necessary passion and dedication.
• The Nature of Art and Experience: The story examines the relationship between experience and art, suggesting that true art requires hardship, authenticity, and a willingness to confront difficult truths.

Symbolism

• Kilimanjaro: Symbolizes purity, aspiration, and the ultimate goal that Harry never reached as a writer. The leopard found frozen near the summit represents those who strive for greatness but fail.
• The Hyena: Represents death, scavenging, and the unpleasant realities that Harry tries to avoid.
• The Vultures: Another symbol of death, waiting for Harry to die.
• The Infection: Symbolizes the decay of Harry's creative spirit and his inability to heal himself through his writing.
• The Airplane Ride: Symbolizes a journey to the afterlife or a final, transcendent moment of artistic vision.

Writing Style

• Hemingway's writing style is characterized by its simplicity, directness, and use of understatement.
• He employs short, declarative sentences and avoids elaborate descriptions, creating a sense of immediacy and realism.
• The story makes use of stream-of-consciousness to convey Harry's thoughts and memories, blurring the lines between past and present.
• Dialogue is sparse and realistic, often revealing more through what is not said than what is.

Literary Significance

• "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is considered one of Hemingway's finest short stories.
• It exemplifies his minimalist writing style and his exploration of themes such as death, regret, and the human condition.
• The story has been widely anthologized and adapted into a film.
• It offers insights into Hemingway's own artistic struggles and his views on the relationship between life, art, and experience.

Interpretation

• The story can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the importance of pursuing one's passions.
• It also raises questions about the nature of art and the sacrifices required to achieve greatness.
• Some critics view Harry as a self-pitying and unlikeable character, while others see him as a tragic figure whose flaws are ultimately human.
• The ending of the story is open to interpretation, with some believing that Harry achieves a moment of transcendence before death, while others see it as a mere delusion.

"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway about regret, wasted talent, love, and death. Set on an African safari, it follows Harry, a writer, as he reflects on his life and failures while facing death due to an infection. His memories and regrets intertwine with his present suffering.