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An essay on the relationship between Nick and Marjorie in "The End of Something"

"The End of Something" is a fictional short story written by Ernest Hemmingway, which was
published in 1925 in his well-known collection of short stories, titled "In Our Time". The story
is narrated in the third person by an unknown narrator. The theme at the heart of the story
lies in the relationship between the two main characters; Nick, a young boy who is well-suited
for the outdoor life and his girlfriend, Marjorie who is in a committed relationship with Nick.
The story sets in a derelict lumbering town in Horton's Bay in Michigan, in two different points
in time.
In the beginning of the story the writer describes the mill in Hortons Bay, which used to be a
lively lumbering town, filled with people and workers; and then ten years later we encounter
with Nick and Marjorie on a boat in the same place. However, now there is no trace of life in
the so-called town and as Hemmingway paints, "nothing of the mill left except the broken
white limestone of its foundations". The dilapidation of the mill and the exhaustion of trees,
in my opinion is a metaphor for the worn out relationship of Nick and Marjorie.

In the first dialogue of the story, Marjorie and Nick are observing the old mill. Marjorie
comments on the mill as looking like a "castle", to which Nick's response is stony silence. This
is another symbolism in the story; the ruins of old mill are being used as symbolism for Nicks
relationship with Marjorie. This would suggest the dramatic difference between Marjorie's
and Nick's vision of their relationship. While she fantasizes it as a loving relationship, the
Nick's silence mirrors that to him, the relationship is nothing more than a ruin.
The fish also seem to be symbolism for Nick. The difficulties that Marjorie encounters with in
the process of catching them suggested that Marjorie will never manage to catch Nick; or
Nick himself is not willing to make any degrees of commitment to Marjorie.

Marjories reaction to the break up, indicates her strong personality. She makes no pleas; tells
Nick that she will take the boat and in a matter-of-fact tone tells him to "walk back around
the point." And when Nick offered to push the boat, she confidently refused. Her reaction
reflexes a strand of acceptance and independence in her character.
The arrival of Bill is another significant aspect of the story. As Marjorie leaves, Bill enters,
which shows a new relationship that started with the end of an old one. it is also owing to his
discussion with Nick that we realize that nick has planned the break up with Marjorie
beforehand. In spite of this fact, Nick's reaction to her rowing away ("Nick went back and lay
down with his face in the blanket by the fire") demonstrates that he did have some feelings
for her.

In conclusion, not only does Ernest Hemmingway's "The End of Something" illustrate the end
of something, it also depicts change, disappointment, devastation, independence,
acceptance and last but not least, the new beginning that commences with the end of
something old.
Kian Ashoory

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