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Ernest Hemingway, 1899-1961

© Mary Lou Derksen

Ernest Hemingway's family was in some ways a divided one. His mother, Grace, an opera singer whose eyes couldn't cope with the bright footlights, taught music instead and tried to form her son into a musician and lover of the arts. His father, Ed, a physician, tried to steer Ernest into outdoor exploits and sports. Both succeeded to some extent.

His parents, however, were unified in their religious approach to life. In Oak Park, one of the most respectable of the Chicago suburbs, churches were a mainstay. In the Hemingway home, each week was begun with church attendance; each meal was preceded by a prayer; and each morning was begun with Bible reading, more prayers, and a hymn or two. In the evenings, Grace presided over her children's bedtime prayers. When she sat beside Ernest's bed and had him kneel next to her, she would begin her prayers for him. He was patient for a few sentences, but would then jump up and bellow, "Amen."

When Grace and Ed were first married, Ed had promised that she would never have to do the housework. They were able to hire some household help so he could keep this promise. When they were between help, or when the help had a day off, Ed cooked and did the dishes and anything else that was needed in the house.

Despite Ed's help, Grace was no lay-me-down. When she wasn't teaching, presiding over recitals, or working with the church music, she was planning their cottage on Walloon Lake in northern Michigan. Once the cottage was constructed, she made all of the furniture for it. Ernest spent most of his summers at this cottage, where he developed an affinity for the outdoors, preferring to spend his nights sleeping outside. With friends he tramped the hills for miles around.

During his first years he was reportedly a very happy child, dancing and jigging around the house, galloping through the rooms astride a horse that looked very much like a cane, and imitating the roars of jungle animals. He would take any amount of abuse from friends and siblings without turning a hair, and would go to bed without a fuss, but if there was a lack of compliance to his wishes, he was a very different child, yelling and kicking, and dancing with rage.

Still, even happiness has its limits, and Ernest and his five sisters were expected to follow strict schedules, to stand inspection, and to be neat and tidy to a fault. If they transgressed so much as to get a spanking, they had to kneel down and pray for God's forgiveness, too.