A Very Short Story

“One hot evening in Padua they carried him up onto the roof and he could look out over the top of the town.”

In this opening sentence, Ernest Hemingway establishes the setting using his characteristic sparse prose. The sentence builds tension and introduces uncertainties, as it is unclear for what reason “he” is unable to move by himself.

“There were chimney swifts in the sky.”

Hemingway uses the image of chimney swifts to create a sense of movement and freedom that contrasts with the soldier’s physical limitations and his current immobile, dependent state. The flight of the swifts also reflects the initial ecstasy of Luz and the soldier, who believe that they have a life together ahead of them that is full of opportunity and possibility. As the narrative progresses, more constraints are placed on the characters’ relationship, and they are forced to face the harsh realities of life.

“Luz sat on the bed. She was cool and fresh in the hot night.”

Luz’s “cool” aspect is contrasted with the heat of Padua. While her coolness and freshness is portrayed positively here, as she appears like a soothing balm in the unbearable heat, it also foreshadows her cool rejection of the soldier later in the story.