Definition of Code Hero (Hemingway)

1 Pages 196 Words

According to Ernest Hemingway, the code hero is a man who lives correctly, following
the ideals of honor, courage and endurance in a world that is sometimes chaotic, often
stressful, and always painful. The code hero or heroine (like Catherine Barkley) must
perform his or her work well to create a kind of personal meaning amidst the greater
meaninglessness. Still, life is filled with misfortunes, and a code hero is known by how he
endures those misfortunes. Ultimately, the code hero will lose in his conflict with life
because he will die. But all that matters is how one faces death. In fact, one should court
death, in the bull ring, on the battlefield, against big fish, because facing death teaches us
how to live. Along with this, the code hero must create and follow certain rituals
regarding death because those rituals help us. The bullfighter must have grace and must
make his kills clean. He must face noble animals. He must put on his suit a certain way.
Similarly, a fisherman shouldn't go out too far. He should respect the boundaries the fish
have established for fishermen. Religion is helpful only in that it provides us with rituals.
But religions are wrong when they promise life after death....