The End of Something is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. The story is about the end of a relationship between two young people, Nick Adams and Marjorie Cameron. The story is told from Nick’s point of view.
The story begins with Nick and Marjorie at the beach. They have been together for some time and their relationship is beginning to unravel. Nick is aware that things are not going well, but he is not sure what to do about it.
The couple spends the day swimming and sunbathing. As they are getting ready to leave, Nick tries to talk to Marjorie about their relationship, but she does not want to listen. It is clear that she has already decided to end things.
The story ends with Nick and Marjorie going their separate ways. The breakup is painful for both of them, but it is also the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
Although their relationship is crumbling, Nick and Marjorie do not act as hostile towards each other as they should in Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “The End of Something.” The setting the story takes place in and its links to nature show how the couple’s relationship dissolves. The story begins with Nick and Marjorie, a couple who are supposed to be going on a fishing trip, rowing close by Horton Bay–a deserted lumber town.
The town is described to be old and “lonely”, with the houses looking like “tumble-down shacks” (Hemingway 1). The sawmill by the lumber town is also said to be abandoned, and “the piles of sawdust…were weathered and the planks were yellow from lying in the sun” (Hemingway 1). The initial description of Hortons Bay setting foreshadows Nick and Marjorie’s crumbling relationship. The couple used to come to this place often when they first started dating, and as time went by they stopped coming as much.
This is significant because their lack of visits corresponds with the deterioration of their relationship. The once lively fishing trips turned into forced, awkward outings. The couple stopped talking to each other and their conversations were “stilted” (Hemingway 1). The description of the town changes as Nick and Marjorie’s relationship does. In the beginning, the town is seen as a place full of adventure and new experiences. The couple went on fishing trips often and had many memories in Hortons Bay.
However, as their relationship sours, so does their view of the town. The houses become “tumble-down shacks”, the sawmill is abandoned, and the piles of sawdust are weathered. This change in setting reflects Nick and Marjorie’s changing attitudes towards each other. They are no longer the happy couple they once were, and their view of the town – and each other – has changed as well. The end of Nick and Marjorie’s relationship is further foreshadowed by their interactions with the place.
When they first arrive at Hortons Bay, Nick is excited to be there and can’t wait to get started on their fishing trip. Marjorie, on the other hand, is less enthusiastic and would rather go home. This difference in attitude sets the tone for the rest of the story. Nick is excited to be there, but Marjorie is not. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Nick is only going through the motions while Marjorie is actually enjoying herself.
After fishing, the couple disembarked and beached their boat on a bank near the shoreline. As they were pulling their boat to higher ground, Marjorie asked Nick if there was something wrong. Nick reacted by saying he didn’t know. After making a fire, they sat down next to each other with their fishing rods cast over the water.
Nick doesn’t want to eat dinner and Marjorie insists, so they sit in silence until Nick says “There’s going to be a moon tonight.” Marjorie is happy with this news.
It’s nearly complete currently.” The couple then went for a stroll, hand in hand, where they saw the moonlight reflecting on the water. The story concludes with Nick stating that he believes “the end of something” has just happened.
Ernest Hemmingway’s “The End of Something” is a short story about a couple who seem to be falling out of love. The story is told from the point of view of Nick, the male protagonist. We see the relationship between Nick and Marjorie through his thoughts and actions.
The story begins with the couple out fishing together. They catch some fish and then head to shore to cook them. As they are cooking, Marjorie asks Nick if something is wrong. He says he does not know. The pair then eat their dinner in silence. Nick breaks the silence by saying there will be a moon tonight. Marjorie is happy to hear this and they go for a walk.
As they are walking, they see the moonlight reflecting on the water. The story ends with Nick saying he thinks the end of something has just happened.
While “The End of Something” is a short story, it is a powerful one. It gives us a glimpse into a relationship that is slowly falling apart. We see the tension between the two characters through their interactions and thoughts. The story ends on a sad note, with Nick realizing that something has come to an end.
Marjorie, remaining silent and then ending the conversation by saying “Oh shut up, there comes the moon” felt the tension between them as they watched it rise in silence. Marjorie asked Nick what was wrong and after being insistent on knowing she finally got a response of “It isn’t fun anymore” before he broke up with her. After the brief unpleasantry, she took the boat offshore.
Nick is left on the dock, feeling “sad and empty.” The story concludes with Nick reflecting upon his relationship with Marjorie, and how it had ended so suddenly.
Hemingway’s The End of Something is a short story that depicts the end of a relationship between two young people, Nick Adams and Marjorie Fisher. The story is told from Nick’s point of view, and details the events leading up to, during, and after the break-up. The story opens with Nick and Marjorie out on their boat, fishing.
The mood is tense from the start; there is an uneasiness between the two characters that is never fully explained. As they fish, Marjorie becomes increasingly angry with Nick, though he is clueless as to why. The reader is left to wonder what has caused the sudden change in Marjorie’s demeanor.
Eventually, Marjorie can no longer take the tension and she demands to know what is wrong. Nick insists that he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Marjorie then loses her temper and tells Nick that he is “selfish and inconsiderate,” and that he has been “acting strange” lately. It is at this point that Nick realizes what the problem is: he doesn’t love Marjorie anymore. He breaks up with her on the spot, and she angrily rows away in the boat.
The story ends with Nick reflecting upon his relationship with Marjorie, and how it had ended so suddenly. He remembers the happy times they had together, and how everything came to an abrupt end. The story leaves the reader wondering what will become of Nick and Marjorie, and whether or not they will be able to move on from this experience.
