Uncertainty Leaving People Asking Why

Dustin Thomas

Professor Rodriguez

English 1020

7 May 2014

Uncertainty Leaving People Asking Why

Unfortunately, people do not always make the most rational and logical decisions. According to FBI statistics, “During 2012, there were an estimated 1.2 million violent crimes reported to law enforcement, including 14 thousand murders, and over 100 thousand robberies” (“Violent Crime Up, Property Crime Down”). As staggering as these statistics are, most of the time, you are not left without a reason for why the horrible crime was committed. You realize there might not be a reason for every violent crime committed or why killers have the mentality to kill, but what most people do realize is that killing is inhumane. Throughout “The Killers” by Ernest Hemingway the motive of the hitmen is tied in with racism and a favor for a friend. Each character that is taken hostage shows concern with preserving life besides the actual man the killers are after for double-crossing their friend.

This short story starts off jumping around. It is hard to follow at the beginning, until you understand Hemingway’s writing style. He writes in very short sentences, mostly leaving you to interpret what he is saying in any way you see fit. It is rare for Hemingway to come out and directly state what is happening in the story, or what you should think about something or someone. He is an author that let’s the readers mind wander and be creative in its own way.

All the characters are not initially specified in detail. One of the characters is referred to as “the man” or “the friend”. Hemingway, however, describes the two other known characters right away, George and Al. George, we know, is the owner of Henry’s and Al is one of the men that came into the diner. Al and his friend seem to act like mobsters from their interesting description. It was said that both of the men wore derby hats, long overcoats, sleek scarfs, and black leather gloves. These men are the ones we can assume are the “killers” by the way they dress and act.

At the beginning of the story, both men are angry that the dinner they want at this local, beat up diner is unavailable. The diner does not start serving dinner until six o'clock and it is only five o’clock when they want to order. The men eventually settle for lunch sandwiches, but are very unhappy about doing so. After they settle what they want to eat, Al asked George what he had to drink, drink being italicized. Al seemed to have wanted an alcoholic beverage, but at this time the Prohibition was still happening so George wouldn’t have had anything to drink like Al wanted. After that, Al said that this was a “hot town”  giving us a sense that he is being sarcastic because Max says, “They all come here and eat the big dinner” (33) after Al asked what people do for fun in the town. This is when the harassment really  begins.