It is no secret to argue that the world of literature entails a host of factors that hones an impact for any given reader. Merely, such factors range from alliteration of words to extensive use of imagery. Simply, any given element of literature is geared towards enhancing the reader effect. As applied to the keen topic of this paper, one of the biggest impacts in the short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway was the use of symbolism. Candidly speaking and by general definition, symbolism is the inclusion and/or usage of symbols in a particular piece geared towards fostering a vital part of a story. Merely, without the use of symbolism in his piece, Hemingway’s short story would have been bland without true impact. Thus, in that event, the argument analysis of this paper defends that the use of symbolism in this short story played the most essential part for literature. Furthermore, the use of symbolism fostered depth and purpose of the writing.
Chiefly, at the beginning of the story Hemingway opens with a history lesson regarding the snow mountain Kilimanjaro. Hemingway describes keen characteristics and structure of the mountain, adjoined with the mentioning of the first symbol: the frozen carcass of a leopard. Post-reading the short story, one becomes aware of the mere contrast between the symbol of the leopard and the hyena. Furthermore, one becomes aware of how the leopard and hyena equally represent part of Harry. In regards to the short story, the leopard represents the impact of power, strength and courage. In lieu of the latter case, the hyena represents loss and misfortune. While on the subject of Harry as it applies to the leopard, Harry is determined to find a life better than his current state of living. Generally, Harry was promised to be an amazing writer and poet prior his meeting of his wife Helen. In lieu of becoming the promising writer he was deemed to be, Harry settled into a life of wealth and privilege contingent upon marrying into his wife’s wealthy legacy. Behind her immense wealth and reputation, the public eye became less interested in Harry’s potential as a writer. Within this storyline, Harry reflects on his life as being wasted by means of procrastination of indulging in his work. Merely, he becomes anxious to recover his wasted life. Thus, in turn, there is the fostered idea for him and his wife to take a trip to Africa. For Harry, Africa serves as the general symbol for a fresh start, a symbol of freedom and peace from the madness—his life in reality of wealth married to a woman he does not love. The sense of hope the Africa trip brings for Harry advocates Harry’s symbolic connection to the leopard who ambitiously aimed at reaching the Kilimanjaro—a mountain deemed with peace and purity. As applied to the story, the leopard dies attempting to fulfill a purpose, as Harry does trying to fulfill his life purpose of getting back on track.
Moving forward, Harry’s symbolic connection to the leopard also appears near the end of the short story. Although the leopard represents Harry symbolically, it is vital to note that both Harry and the leopard share contrasts. For instance, the paper reflects how the leopard—determined—climbed the mountain; whereas Harry simply takes an airplane ride. While Harry is determined to fulfill purpose of his life, he is antagonistically represented by the hyena—whose sole purpose is to hunt and fail. Throughout the story, Harry’s psychological mainframe is equivocally that of the hyena. Moreover, Harry’s procrastination (i.e. failure) ties him to the hyena. According to the text, Harry’s behavior towards his wife shows his menacing resentment. His behavior reflects his need to prey on the innocent, again tying his symbolic similarity to that of a hyena. Merely, the hyena is who Harry is in the physical state, while the leopard is who he aims to be again—fearless and dedicated towards endowing himself in his talent. There is textual support that Harry was that of the leopard in his stories; however throughout the midst of his life he became the hyena.
Although Harry is suffering from an inevitable fatal infection, he has hope. Merely, his hopes stems from his various flashbacks and dreams. Throughout the story the flashbacks range from war to sex broken into six parts. As it applies to his dreams, Harry dreams of being rescued by a plane, despite his adamant rude behavior towards his wife of dismissing such luck. Rather, Harry dreams the rescue plane travels an unexpected route that results in him passing over the Kilijaroman. During his passing over the Kilijaroman, Harry sees the white in the sun, massive covering of pure white snow and he becomes aware that the place is Heaven. Thus, the Kilijaroman is the symbol of Heaven. Again, this justifies Harry’s hope to becoming who he desires to be contingent upon his first vision. In that event, this brings light to the subject of the vital symbolic reference of snow.
Within is first vision on a train, Harry reflected on the “things he saved to write, looking out the window and seeing snow on the mountains…” (1637). In Harry’s mind, snow was the symbolic reference of the failures he has undergone. Simply, the failure to write on his experiences that bred him to be the person he does not want to be. Moving forward, the stories Harry reflects on serves as the snow mentioned is the hurdle that is preventing Harry to prosper. Merely, the snow prevents Harry from reaching redemption of becoming the once self proclaimed fearless leopard. Thus this shows why Harry is adamant to reach the summit of the “snow covered mountain” because if done so, he has overcome his failures reaching redemption. While the Kilijaroman is the identifiable symbol of Heaven and redemption, Hemingway provides an abstract way for Harry to reach his potential through death. Simply, the story mentions that Harry wants to “kill off everything [he] leaves behind…” (1637). Thus, this includes his horse, wife, saddle and armor undergoing killing in the hopes to purify himself. However, in lieu of blatant mentioning that Harry reaches such potential is left in suspense. Merely, the reader becomes aware that Harry is in an unidentified state of mind.
Another keen use of symbolism that brings effect to this short story is the vultures. Candidly speaking, the vultures represent inevitable death. Merely, the vultures began scouring above him in the air to show that death is coming for Harry. Candidly speaking, the vultures played the role of reminding Harry that his road to redemption had an expiration time. Merely, the vultures reminded Harry that regardless of his attempts at salvation, he would die. Simply, the vultures reminded Harry of his inevitable death especially when they traveled around his camp. In the midst of Part 1, the vultures are represented to be birds of prey. Within the duration of the day, the vultures gathered around Harry’s camp; being pulled in by the viscous and foul smell of Harry’s rotting flesh. Simply, the smell brings the primary notice of death to the vultures. Reading this short story, one becomes aware that Hemingway uses the symbol of the vulture to define the horror of approaching death. In addition, the vultures define the horror of agony in waiting for an inevitable death. However, in contrast to their negative meaning, it is important to note that Hemingway also reflects on Harry having a more positive experience of observing vultures for his writing.
Candidly speaking, regarding outside knowledge of a vulture, it is safe to argue that vultures represent life and death. In regard to their functioning in life, vultures have the tendency to keep an environment clean from trash or debris within their surroundings. In addition, vultures reign in death as they have the tendency to foreshadow when someone is near death’s knocking door. Consequently, as it applies to the literature reading, the vulture represents a vital split of Harry’s life also. Regarding the mere fact that vultures represent opportunity and termination, they appeared at time via Harry’s observation where he could have straighten his “wasted” talent life. Merely through his lenses of observation for his writings. Following suite, the vultures return giving notice to Harry that his timeline is near an ending and that he has yet to overcome to be the person he once was. Furthermore, another mere symbol is the reiterated airplane which plays a symbol of hope. Merely, the airplane is considered to be from the Heavens designated to rescue both Helen and Harry from misfortune and the vultures.
Essentially, it is clear to argue that the use of symbolism in this literature piece made a grave impact. Reiterating, symbolism is the inclusion and/or usage of symbols in a particular piece geared towards fostering a vital part of the story. To reiterate furthermore, literature involves a host of factors that enables a reader to indulge themselves into different areas of reading delight. In general, symbolism has a host of effects alone. Candidly speaking, symbolism plays the vital role of enabling authors to create magic. Simply, such magic may include an array of in-depth meanings, layers of character comprehension; express an array of universal themes, and strong reader engagement. Thus as it applies to the short story of The Snows of Kilimanjaro, the narrative of one man’s transgressions, reveries and relationships fostered reader appreciation contingent upon the mere inclusion of symbolism, among other factors of literature elements. Candidly speaking, as a reader it is important to gain a well rounded perception of any character’s emotion and mental capacity as it enhances appreciation. Primarily, through the use of symbols, it is easier to understand the central character’s passion and complexity. Through the use of symbols one can determine the underlying theme and motive of the short story. To that notion, it is safe to argue that without the use of symbolism, the short story would have made an impression in the literature world.