Urvashi Patel

Essay title..
Ernest Hemmingway portrays the life and times of F. Scott Fitzgerald in Paris
during the 1920s in different ways. The style of Hemmingways writing leaves
the reader with different impressions of Fitzgerald and his personality as a whole.
However, one of the main points that threads through A Moveable Feast is that
Fitzgerald was slightly bipolar with his personality which shone through to the
reader through Hemmingways depth of descriptions.
Hemmingway first introduces Fitzgeralds appearance to the reader with his fair
wavy hair and a delicate long-lipped Irish mouth. Because of the depth and
precision to Hemingways description, the reader would be able to visualise this
person in the head, painting a picture.
During Hemmingways first encounter with Fitzgerald, it seems that he drinks
more than he can handle, as his skin seemed to tighten over his face like a
deaths head. Dunc Chaplin reassures Hemmingway that it is just the way the
drink takes him, indicating that Chaplin is familiar with Fitzgeralds drinking
behaviour.
When both men meet for a second time, Fitzgerald denies the Dingo bar incident.
Hes quick to judge as he didnt believe Hemmingway was the sort of person
who would make up the mysteries. The reader later finds out that the previous
nights episode is not the only thing he is in denial about.
Hemmingway describes the way Fitzgerald speaks are sparingly. This initiates
the superiority of Fitzgerald in their friendship. As the chapter unfolds,
Hemmingway becomes more submissive to Fitzgeralds demands, showing the
upholding authority that Fitzgerald has over him. As they both share a few drinks
together, Hemmingway makes light of the fact that there was no chemical
change from the two whisky and sodas they had. The seriousness of this topic
soon changes as Hemmingway gets to know about Fitzgerald on their upcoming
trip to Lyon.
It could be questioned that Hemmingway is quick to agree to join Fitzgerald on
the trip to Lyon, and he does realise, after Fitzgerald does not arrive on time for
the train departure, that he is to learn many new things on the trip. This
portrays the unreliability of Fitzgerald and what could be suggested as a laid
back attitude.
As Fitzgerald meets Hemmingway at his hotel, he is clever to not meet him in his
room, even though Hemmingway asks. This again highlights the dominance and
stubbornness of Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald slyly steers clear of any arguments that
may arise by waiting for Hemmingway down at the desk where other people are
present. This gives an insight into the mind of Fitzgerald and his way of thinking.
Furthermore, Fitzgeralds authority comes back into play when Hemmingway
suggests to eat in a caf. Fitzgerald disregards the idea as Hemmingway replies
with All right, following through with Fitzgeralds preferences. Additionally,
Fitzgerald suggests they order lunch from the hotel, where it is four or five times
what it wouldve cost if they had bought it themselves. Money doesnt seem to
be a problem for Fitzgerald as he takes a laid back approach to the food and the
timing they are supposedly wasting.

Urvashi Patel
Although Fitzgerald shows dominance in the friendship, it can be inferred that it
is the opposite with his wife, where he is submissive to her. Because his wife
hated car tops and had ordered it cut away. The word ordered highlights the
power she has to manipulate his opinions.
Hemmingway embeds the fact that Fitzgerald is a heavy drinker as he has
obviously been drinking, although he denies that he is not a morning drinker.
Throughout the day however, Fitzgerald acts as excited as a girl might be by
going swimming for the first time without a bathing suit about the fact that he is
drinking wine from a bottle. The thought of Fitzgerald drinking from a bottle
connotes a heavy drinking lifestyle. The simile further indicates the arising topic
of alcohol as the reader starts to associate Fitzgerald with this reoccurring topic.
As the journey in Lyon progresses and Fitzgerald begins to open up to
Hemmingway, the reader begins to feel sympathy for the reader because the
drinking problem he seemed to have has consequently affected his health so he
is dying of congestion in the lungs. It could be viewed that he is using
Hemmingway as he requests if he dies, there will be someone to look after Zelda
and young Scotty.
Fitzgerald also makes Hemmingway feel guilty when he starts to feel very ill by
blackmailing him to get him a thermometer, if hes a real friend. Despite the
blackmail and because of the power he has in the friendship, Hemmingway
follows his order as he could not be angry with Scott any more than you could
be angry with a crazy person.
When Fitzgerald is ill, he acts very overdramatic and the reader starts to see a
different side to his personality. His patronising tone, again, makes Hemmingway
feel guilt as Fitzgerald calls him a cold one and accuses him of not caring that
hes dying. Fitzgerald uses the excuse of his illness to become rude and belittle
Hemmingway. Fitzgeralds personality then switches again as he is now
reassured by the thermometer, with his great recuperative power. Suddenly the
issue of his health seems to be dismissed as he drinks a whisky sour down very
fast. It made him feel wonderful for a while showing the quick ignorance of his
heath and illness and his lack of taking care and responsibility for himself. As he
tells Hemmingway to order another drink, it highlights how he taking advantage
of Hemmingway-treating him like a waiter.
Cares about Zelda- on da phone for an hour
Seemed to stimulate him too much then to poison him
Penis incident
Context
Overall