Summary
Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not, published in 1937, is a gritty novel that explores themes of economic inequality and moral compromise during the Great Depression. Set in Key West and Cuba, the story follows Harry Morgan, a fishing boat captain forced into smuggling to support his family. This work stands out in Hemingway's oeuvre for its multiple narrative perspectives and its stark portrayal of the era's social disparities.
The novel's genesis is noteworthy, having evolved from two short stories published in popular magazines. Hemingway expanded these into a full-length work while traveling back and forth to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. This context heavily influenced the book's underlying Marxist ideology, as noted by Hemingway biographer Jeffrey Meyers.
Perhaps best known is the 1944 film adaptation directed by Howard Hawks, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. While the movie significantly altered the plot and setting, transforming the story into a romantic thriller, it became a classic in its own right. The novel has seen several other adaptations, including Michael Curtiz's more faithful 1950 version, The Breaking Point, starring John Garfield and Patricia Neal.
Plot
Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not follows the story of Harry Morgan, a fishing boat captain in Key West, Florida during the Great Depression. When a wealthy client cheats him out of payment for a three-week fishing trip, Harry finds himself in dire financial straits. Desperate to support his family, he turns to smuggling contraband between Cuba and Florida.
Harry's first illegal venture involves a plan to transport Chinese immigrants from Cuba to Florida. However, he double-crosses them, murdering their middleman and abandoning the immigrants in Cuba. This marks the beginning of Harry's descent into a life of crime, as he starts ferrying various illicit goods between the two countries, including alcohol and Cuban revolutionaries.
As Harry's illegal activities escalate, the novel alternates between his increasingly dangerous escapades and scenes depicting the decadent lives of wealthy yacht owners in the area. This stark contrast highlights the economic disparities of the era, with Harry representing the struggling “Have Nots” and the yacht owners embodying the privileged “Haves."
Throughout the novel, Harry's criminal endeavors become more perilous, putting both his life and his family's well-being at risk. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, with different characters narrating various chapters, providing a multifaceted view of Harry's world and the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s Key West and Cuba.
Themes
Economic inequality and social injustice
Desperation and moral compromise
Masculinity and male identity
Love and relationships in difficult circumstances
Contrast between wealth and poverty
Crime and its consequences
Individual struggle against societal forces
Setting
Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the 1930s, To Have and Have Not unfolds in the sun-soaked regions of the Florida Keys and Cuba. This era of economic hardship serves as a crucial element in shaping the narrative, highlighting the stark contrast between the “Haves” and the “Have Nots” that Hemingway so vividly portrays.
The story primarily takes place in Key West, Florida, a small island city at the southernmost point of the continental United States. Known for its vibrant culture and proximity to Cuba, Key West serves as the perfect setting for the novel's exploration of smuggling and contraband activities. The warm waters of the Straits of Florida, separating the two countries, become a treacherous playground for the protagonist's illicit ventures.
Cuba, particularly Havana, also features prominently in the novel. The island nation, just 90 miles south of Key West, provides a stark contrast to the American setting. Its bustling capital, with its mix of glamour and grit, becomes a crucial waypoint in Harry Morgan's dangerous journey between legality and crime. The interplay between these two distinct yet interconnected locales creates a rich, atmospheric backdrop for Hemingway's tale of desperation and survival.
Characters
Harry Morgan: The protagonist and a fishing boat captain in Key West. He is forced into smuggling to support his family during the Great Depression. Harry is a tough, resourceful man who becomes increasingly desperate and morally compromised as he struggles to survive. His actions drive much of the plot and illustrate the novel's themes of economic inequality and survival.
Marie Morgan: Harry's devoted wife. She stands by him despite their financial hardships and his dangerous activities. Marie represents the strength and resilience of working-class women during the Depression era.
Albert Tracy: Harry's alcoholic friend and sometimes mate on his boat. Tracy serves as both comic relief and a tragic figure, illustrating the toll of poverty and addiction.
Richard Gordon: A wealthy writer staying in Key West. Gordon represents the “Haves” in the novel, contrasting sharply with Harry's struggles. His dissolute lifestyle and marital problems highlight the emptiness of wealth without purpose.
Helen Gordon: Richard's wife, who becomes disillusioned with their marriage. Her character provides insight into the unhappiness lurking beneath the surface of seemingly privileged lives.
Mr. Johnson: A wealthy fishing charter customer who cheats Harry out of payment. His actions serve as a catalyst for Harry's descent into illegal activities.
Freddy: A Cuban revolutionary who hires Harry for transport. He represents the political unrest of the era and draws Harry deeper into dangerous waters.
Quick facts
The novel began as two separate short stories published in magazines before Hemingway expanded it into a full book.
It was Hemingway's second novel set in the United States, after The Torrents of Spring.
The book was heavily influenced by Marxist ideology Hemingway encountered while covering the Spanish Civil War.
It uses an unusual narrative technique, with different chapters narrated from multiple characters' perspectives.
The novel portrays the economic struggles and class divides in Key West during the Great Depression.
The 1944 film adaptation, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, significantly changed the plot and setting.
Three different film adaptations have been made based on the novel.
An Iranian director adapted the story into a Persian Gulf setting in the 1987 film Captain Khorshid.
The book was published by Scribner's with an initial print run of about 10,000 copies in 1937.
It was published as an Armed Services Edition during World War II for distribution to U.S. troops.
About the Author
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. Born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, Hemingway worked as a reporter before volunteering as an ambulance driver on the Italian front during World War I, where he was seriously wounded. This experience informed his writing, particularly his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. After the war, Hemingway spent time in Paris among other expatriate artists and writers, developing his iconic sparse prose style.
Hemingway's literary breakthrough came with his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises, which established him as a leading voice of the “Lost Generation". He went on to write several other acclaimed novels including For Whom the Bell Tolls and short story collections like Men Without Women. His understated, economical writing style, which he called the “iceberg theory", had a major influence on 20th century fiction. Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 “for his mastery of the art of narrative".
An adventurous spirit, Hemingway was passionate about bullfighting, big-game hunting, and deep-sea fishing. These pursuits often featured in his writing, as did his experiences reporting on the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Hemingway cultivated a macho public persona, but also struggled with depression and alcoholism, especially in his later years. His mental health declined significantly after two plane crashes in Africa left him badly injured in 1954.
Tragically, Hemingway died by suicide in 1961 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, at the age of 61. Though his life was cut short, Hemingway left an indelible mark on American literature. His terse, understated prose style and themes of love, war, wilderness and loss continue to resonate with readers decades after his death. Hemingway's influence can still be felt in contemporary fiction, cementing his place as one of the great American authors of the 20th century.
