"Hemingway was a prisoner of his style. No one can talk like the characters in Hemingway except the characters in Hemingway. His style in the wildest sense finally killed him"
- William Burroughs
About this Quote
This quote by William Burroughs talks to the unique and powerful design of Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was a master of his craft, and his composing style was so unique that it ended up being a prison of sorts. His characters spoke in a manner that was so special and recognizable that nobody else could replicate it. This style, in its wildest sense, was eventually what resulted in his death. Hemingway was a victim of his own success, and his style was so powerful that it eventually consumed him. His writing was a reflection of his life, and it was this same design that ultimately resulted in his death. Hemingway was a detainee of his own style, and it was this very same design that eventually eliminated him.
"Homer's whole language, the language in which he lived, the language that he breathed, because he never saw it, or certainly those who formed his tradition never saw it, in characters on the pages. It was all on the tongue and in the ear"
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