HISTORICAL SETTING
Written in
1926, Ernest Hemingway's "The Killers" is a story set in the historical period of
Prohibition when organized crime was at its rampant with such larger-than-life figures
as Al Capone and Dutch Schultz controlling the bootlegging industry. In addition,
Hemingway's disillusionment with American in the wake of World War I is also present in
this narrative of two professional
killers.
STYLE
Hemingway uses
gangster-like dialogue, as well, to characterize the killers. They are disinterested in
where they are; they are just there to do a job. The triviality of their discussion
also indicates their callousness and cold-blooded
nature:
"This
is a hot town," said the other. "What do they call
it?""Summit."
"Ever hear of
it?" Al asked his friend."No," said the
friend.
Their conversation
later is peppered with insults, wisecracks, and slang. For instance, they demean the
black cook and call Nick "bright boy." Nor do they answer any questions
directly:
"What do you think it's all
about?"
"I don't know."
"What
do you think?"
Max looked into the mirror all the time he
was talking.
"I wouldn't
say."
Other characters reveal
their personalities in their speech, as well. When George speaks he indicates his
desire for uninvolvement, while Nick displays his naivete in his words of
incredulity.
THEMES
Typically,
masculinity is a theme. The gangsters ridicule the cook George as he
serves food, telling him he will make someone a good wife. And, they tease Nick about
being a mere boy.
Chaos is
also a theme as the killers come to town to kill Old Swede, knowing that he eats at
Henry's at six o'clock, yet they ask the name of the town, and when told, Max says that
he has never heard of it. Similarly, Nick confuses Mrs. Bell at the boardinghouse with
Mrs. Hirsch, who is the owner. These differences in the appearance of the world and the
reality of it greatly confuses and disturbs Nick.
In
addition, there is the theme of Crime that is prevalent.
With the mob bribing policemen in the big cities, no one was safe. Max and Al's
flouting of their errand to kill with no worry of reprisals suggests that there is
little that any one can do about the prevalence of crime. George's sense of resignation
to this state is also disturbing as he says that crime is someone else's
responsibility. He even delegates Nick to warn Old Swede. Nick's response is that of
Hemingway himself: disillusionment. He wants to run away from the town rather than
accept its gratuitous dangers:
"I wonder what he did?" Nick
said.
"Double-crossed somebody. That's what they kill them
for."
"I'm going to get out of this town," Nick
said.
"Yes," said George. "That's a good thing to
do."
"I can't stand to think about him waiting in the room
and knowing he's going to get it. It's too damned
awful."
"Well, said George, "you better not think about
it."
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