Language
The language of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sea Change” is, in general, simple and straightforward, making it easy to follow and understand.
Imagery is usually constructed in connection to the characters’ physical attributes: “(...) her skin was a golden brown, her blonde hair was cut short and grew beautifully away from her forehead.” (ll. 14-15); “His face was white and so was his jacket.” (ll. 65-66); “She had very fine hands (…) They were slim and brown and very beautiful.” (ll. 1…
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Sentence structure
The story relies heavily on the dramatic dialogue between the two main characters, Phil and the girl. The dialogue is constructed using plenty of contractions. However, they are absent from the third-person narration.…
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Idioms
At the beginning of the story, the couple begin arguing. Phil confronts the girl about an unnamed “it”, accusing her of not wanting to do it, and she concedes: “(…) have it your own way.” (l. 7). The use of this idiom …
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Metaphors
There are very few metaphors or similes in “The Sea Change”. This points to Hemingway’s straightforward and minimalistic style of narration, which gives the reader some details but doesn’t explore the emotional significance of the events in depth.
We…
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Repetition
Repetition is used frequently in “The Sea Change” to add emphasis to certain ideas. This is especially important because the narration and the dialogue in the story are not explicit about what happens. Repetition indicates the important details and helps create a more dramatic atmosphere.
First, the man repeats his intention to get revenge by killing the other woman: “ ‘I will. I swear to God I will.’ ” (l. 19). The context indicates that he is not being serious but rather uses this statement to express his anger and frustratio…
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Symbols
The author uses symbolic elements which are connected to the story’s themes and characters.
The girl’s hands
The first symbolic elements we encounter are the girl’s hands. At first, the narrator describes their physical attributes: “She had very fine hands and the man looked at them. They were slim and brown and very beautiful.” (ll. 17-18). Here, the hands symbolize the girl’s femininity, beauty, and youth. The man looks at them and admires her beauty.
Later in the story, she “put out her hand” (l.26) in an attempt to connect with Phil. She is rejected, but she does this a second time: “she looked at him and put her hand out again.” (ll. 64-65). He “looked at her hands, but he did not touch her hand with his.” (ll. 27-28). In this quotation, the girl’s …
