Ernest Hemingway shares his fond memories of Paris in A Moveable Supper, his memoir. The book talks about Hemingway’s writing process, and also other memories he has of Paris. Hemingway calls Hadley by her first name, but eventually changes to Hadley. Hemingway describes Hadley throughout the book as a supportive, fun-loving wife. Hemingway doesn’t use chronological order to organize his book. He uses the subtle transitions in this book to highlight a division between Hadley and him.
Hemingway shares with the reader his Parisian experiences and his meetings with other famous writers. Hemingway describes his favorite cafe in the first chapter. The chapter ends with a mention of a conversation that he had about a possible vacation. Hemingway says, “She was a woman with a lovely face and eyes that glowed at her decisions like rich presents.” Hemingway makes his dialogue the focal point of his novel by describing his family in a straightforward manner. Hemingway describes her response to the decision to go on vacation in a way that shows what she views it as. She sees it as a gift she rarely receives. Hemingway’s wife is delighted to go on the trip because he insists on it. She encourages Hemingway to leave Paris for a while so he can continue writing about Paris.
Hadley encourages Hemingway, too, to grow out his long hair. She cuts her own hair the same way Hemingway did so they could grow out their locks together. Hemingway is known to have bet heavily on horse racing during his Parisian years. Hadley questions Hemingway about whether they have enough cash to wager. Hemingway has been writing short stories for newspapers since the beginning of his career. Hemingways don’t consider themselves wealthy, but neither do think they are poor. Hadley, who is not rich at all, still supports Hemingway: “I believe we should go…We haven’t gone for so long” (43). Hemingway claims that he’s been very frugal with their income, so Hadley supports him when Hemingway wants to gamble the little money they do have.
Hemingway describes the deepness of his relationship with Hadley in this scene. In this scene, Hemingway shows that hunger is not just a physical sensation. It’s also a desire for more. Hemingway was so familiar with his wife that he knew she felt the same hunger as he did. Hemingway’s scene shows that he shared a strong relationship with Hadley which makes the divorce of their marriage more tragic.
Hemingway first uses Hadley’s last name in the sixth book chapter, instead of calling her his wife. While it may seem unimportant, this is actually a significant moment. This switch of Hadley in the chapters of A Moving Feast is not chronological, and could represent how Hemingway’s relationship with Hadley began to deteriorate. Hemingway discusses his breakup with Hadley in chapter 16. He says, “Hadley & I had grown too confident & careless with our pride and confidence” (123). He begins this short discussion by saying that their relationship had become too relaxed. He continues, “Hadley… is much happier and deserves it. She married a man who was far more fine than I could ever hope to be. Hemingway has a close relationship with Hadley. He knows she is not responsible for their divorce. He still worries about her because she’s his wife, the mother of their first child. Hemingway hardly ever calls Hadley wife from chapter six through chapter sixteen. Hemingway begins to distance himself and Hadley from each other through his work.
Hemingway’s view of Hadley is a complete one. Hemingway considers Hadley to be a loving wife and supporter of his career as a writer, a person with whom he has a deep connection, and a woman that deserves someone more than Hemingway. A Moveable Feast captures the true personality of her through his conversations. Hemingway had the option of skewing Hadley’s character to make her seem spiteful, since his marriage ended in divorce. However, he chose to portray Hadley as a woman who is mostly unflinching. Hemingway’s time in Paris was mostly a happy one, and he wanted the reader to feel that same happiness. He describes Hadley accurately and without bias. Hadley Hemingway gave Ernest Hemingway a lot support in his struggle as an author. Hadley also valued the simpler way of life that Ernest and Hadley led, compared with the more luxurious lives of Hemingway friends. Hemingway was aware that Hadley deserved more than what he could offer her. Hemingway loved his time with Hadley and didn’t want the bitterness of divorce to cloud those fond memories. He was in love with Hadley, and he wanted to show how she had helped him live in Paris for those five years.
