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Zach Moye

Professor Adam Diehl

HUMN 2010

2 February 2024

Nick Adams' Heartbreak

In Ernest Hemingway's "The Nick Adams Stories," the main character, Nick Adams,

experiences a life marked by significant relationships and heartbreaks. Among these, the breakup

with Marjorie leads to his life of great sorrow. I will examine the breakup's profound impact on

Nick's outlook on life, relationships, and understanding of self, drawing upon quotes from

Hemingway's stories to explain the depth of his sorrow.

The ending of Nick's relationship with Marjorie brings forth sorrow due to his emotional

investment in their relationship. Marjorie represented more than just a romantic interest to Nick;

she symbolized hope, companionship, and belonging, something he didn't have in his family life.

In "The Three-Day Blow," Nick's inner turmoil is evident as he confides in Bill, stating, "I'm all

broken up inside about it" (Hemingway, "The Three-Day Blow"). This quote highlights the

intensity of Nick's emotional distress following the breakup.

The breakup with Marjorie significantly impacted Nick's outlook on life, relationships,

and self. Nick did not trust romantic connections, making him hesitant to open up emotionally

based on his father and mother's marriage. He intentionally pushes Marjorie away with an urging

from his friend Bill. Afterward, Nick immediately regretted it, believing he may have made a

mistake by letting her go. I think this shows his guilt for leaving her and that he misses her. Nick

repeatedly says, "All of a sudden, it was over," talking about it being over with Marjorie. I liked

the way the author was very descriptive of the emotional trauma going on through Nick while he
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was drinking with Bill. Hemingway used words such as "broken up inside" and "it was over" to

convey how much Nick was feeling about the loss of Marjorie. Later, the loss of trust is

evident, and the memory of Marjorie haunts him, shaping his interactions with other women and

hindering his ability to form meaningful relationships. This lingering sense of heartbreak

perpetuates Nick's cycle of emotional turmoil, leaving him disillusioned and emotionally

guarded. I feel this is described when John states he should get married, and Nick avoids directly

answering and says, "I'll think about it," and eventually, "Let's try and sleep a while"

(Hemingway, "Now I Lay Me").

Moreover, the breakup diminishes Nick's self-esteem and confidence. He internalizes the

breakup as a reflection of his inadequacies, leading to feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt. In

"Now I Lay Me," Nick reflects on the brief nature of romantic love, acknowledging that "There

isn't always an explanation for everything" (Hemingway, "Now I Lay Me"). This acceptance of

ambiguity underscores Nick's struggle to accept his shattered sense of self-worth. I feel this led

Nick to join the military because he doesn't feel he belongs and has no place in the world.

Furthermore, the breakup with Marjorie instills a sense of skepticism regarding love and

relationships in Nick. He becomes disillusioned with the idea of lasting romantic connections,

viewing them as temporary and uncertain. This skepticism skews his perceptions of future

romantic endeavors, as evidenced in "The Three-Day Blow" when Nick expresses doubts about

the longevity of love: "I don't think so, not if it's the right sort" (Hemingway, "The Three-Day

Blow"). This quote reflects Nick's cynical outlook on love, shaped by his experience with

Marjorie. I believe Nick's self-loathing made him feel that there was no lasting relationship for

him because he was unworthy of such love.

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In conclusion, the breakup with Marjorie is a pivotal moment in Nick's life, profoundly

influencing his future experiences and shaping his outlook on love, relationships, and self. I feel

Hemingway's portrayal of heartbreak in "The Nick Adams Stories" offers insight into the

complexities of human emotion and the enduring effects of loss of love. Through Nick's

experiences with Marjorie, you can see a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of how the

heartbreak affected his psyche and future endeavors.

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Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. New York: Charles Scriburs Sons,
1966.