Characterization of Bill

Bill is the second important character in the short story “The Three-Day Blow” by Ernest Hemingway. According to Hemingway’s autobiographers, Bill is the literary persona of Hemingway’s real-life friend, Bill Smith. According to Bill’s outer characterization, he is Nick’s friend and the son of a painter.

Inner characterization

Bill’s inner characterization suggests that he likes to control or to dominate his relationship with Nick. Throughout the story, it is Bill who moves the conversation further and controls it, and who proposes to Nick that they get drunk.

From the beginning of the story, Bill comes across as a little patronizing as he scolds Nick for not wearing socks or tells Nick that he will damage the fire screen: “ ‘It’s getting too late to go around without socks, ’ he said. (…) ‘You’ll dent in the screen,’ Bill said. Nick swung his feet over to the side of the fireplace.” (ll. 45-49)

Bill also tries to impose his views on baseball or literary books and authors:

‘That’s right,’ said Nick. ‘I guess he’s a better guy than Walpole.’
‘Oh, he’s a better guy, all right,’ Bill said.
‘But Walpole’s a better writer.’
‘I don’t know,’ Nick said. ‘Chesterton’s a classic.’
‘Walpole’s a classic, too,’ Bill insisted. (ll. 123-127)

Bill insists on the two of them getting drunk and presents his views on what makes one a drunkard, views that are clearly influenced by his father: “ ‘He says openin...