Boyz 2 Men

This week’s readings were all about the concept of boys becoming men. A virtual coming of age narrative reflected in the writings of Hemingway’s “Big Hearted River”, Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” and Wright’s “Almos’ a Man”. Each focused upon a male character going through a rite of passage defining themselves as a man. Self awareness. Who I am and whom do I want to be?

Reading the stories in order, I found myself quickly and easily enjoying Hemmingway’s “Big Hearted River.”  I found common ground with Nick with similar experiences upon wooded rivers far away and untouched by civilization. He, in Michigan, myself in Montana, differed only in geographical location and the fact that he was an accomplished fisherman while I catch lots of snags.  Looking deeper, I realized that the story wasn’t about catching fish, but more about making changes to one’s self adapting to one’s environment. I have a habit of “filling the room”, as my father would have said, exerting my own perspectives upon my surroundings, changing them to suit my wishes. Self awareness and experiences similar to Nick’s have taught me that it is not only easier to change one’s self, but is enlightening.

Nick changes and adapts in a myriad of ways that may seem hidden at first. To begin with, he goes to the wilderness. The storyline gives the reader nothing to reflect about the why’s about this trip, other than that Nick has visited before. I suppose, that to catch fish, one must go to where the fish live. Arriving, he manfully struggles to move all of his stuff, in one trip, to his camp. Is Hemmingway implying that we all have baggage? Heh, of course he is.

Once set up, our hero pulls from his surroundings the items he requires for success. The catching of grasshoppers takes me back to my childhood. Hemmingway does a terrific job of explaining to the reader that taking from nature respectfully is acceptable. There is PETA remorse for using another life as bait for another life to feed yet another life. Death is part and parcel to life. He takes what he can use, then places the log back for future grasshopper collections. Ouch. How many times have I failed to take care of my surroundings respectfully?

Nick fills his day with the pursuit of big trout. You will notice that I say big, but not BIGGEST. The really big one gets away, but instead of relentlessly pursuing it, like Ahab would have in Moby Dick, he reflects, relishes the experience then moves on to catch two other fish that may not be as huge, they are certainly large enough to suffice as his coming dinner and breakfast. This idea of, take what you need but no more. Excess food is a waste. Excess pride is equally wasteful. For instance; I have to ask myself; If Nick had pursued the trout (whale), who had easily defeated him already and would most likely do again, what would he do for meals? I suppose he could live off his civilized fare, but that would defeat the whole meaning of the trip now wouldn’t it? Instead, he adapts his methodology.

While there are some additional examples of large adaptions, such as his decision to wait before exploring the dangerous depths of the swamp, there are a myriad of little changes that Nick makes in his realation to his enviroment. Instead of fishing from stream, he wades right into the river. No waders, nothing to keep himself from immersing himself fully into nature. He uses his hat to drink  from; excess water running back into the river.  Utilizes the tree trunk as a cutting table. Heck, he uses it first as a blunt object to knock out the two fish he caught before gutting them. This idea of respect for everything living. He even takes the offal from the fish flinging it onto the bank for the mink to eat. Sharing…. What a concept.

His actions are deliberate. His responses to things that do not go as planned are calm. His motions are actually a combination of good habits and muscle memmory (such as how he doesn't even have to think about how to make the perfect fly cast) freeing up his mind to observe his surroundings. How many of us simply go through life, absorbed in details and drama, head down, oblivious to what is going on around us? For myself, overly so.

There is little in the way of PAST. Even fewer references to the FUTURE.  Mostly, Nick is experiencing the PRESENT which is of his own creation. Is it any wonder that critics have labeled Hemmingway a narcissist? I always found that word to be negative, but perhaps, just perhaps.... a little "self-narcissism", (I just made up that word), defined by - the ability to change one’s self to fit one’s environment in an effort to create a perfect moment. Maybe that self divinity is a meaning of life. (I say "a meaning" rather that "the meaning" since I get the feeling that there are multiple meanings out there. But then again, what do I know, I have difficulties most times catching fish.......

maybe, I need to refine my grasshopper catching skills first..... ya think?

Decker