Essay Questions

Why does Kate Smith try to deter Hadley from dating Ernest Hemingway?

Kate tried to deter Hadley from dating Ernest because she was jealous. She wanted a relationship with him, but it did not happen. She also knows his family and his relationship with them. Ernest’s relationship with his parents is strained. Kate can also be concerned about Hadley’s inexperience in relationships and her emotional instability. She does not want Hadley to get hurt.

Why does Hadley stay with Ernest once she learns of his affair with Pauline Pfeiffer?

Hadley stays with Ernest after she learns of his affair with Ernest because she fears life without him. She still loves her husband and wants to think that he will choose her and their son over Pauline. When Ernest invites Pauline on a trip with his wife and son, Hadley feels like a third wheel in her relationship with her husband. When he asks if they can all three live together, Hadley balks and asks for a separation.

How does Ernest’s view of marriage differ from Hadley’s?

Ernest views marriage as flexible. His friends have their wives and lovers living in the same house. He wants this in his own marriage. He wants to be the center of attention in all his relationships. When Hadley becomes a mother, her attention goes toward her baby and less toward Ernest. Ernest finds Pauline’s attention attractive. She fawns over him and his work. This is how Hadley used to be before she became a mother. He is selfish in love and relationships.

Hadley sees marriage as a partnership. When Ernest brings Pauline into their relationship, it is over for her. Two people are a partnership. Three people is a crowd. She loves her husband and wants to make it work but cannot watch him have an intimate relationship with another woman in her own home.