The Three-Day Blow
Encyclopedia
“The Three-Day Blow” is a short story by Ernest Hemingway
, first published in his collection In Our Time
in 1925. The story features Nick Adams
, one of Hemingway’s recurring protagonists, appearing in at least a dozen of Hemingway’s stories written during the 20s and 30s. The story is a fine example of Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory
.
The story begins with Nick walking around the orchard near the cabin. He picks up a Wagner apple and puts it in his pocket. Nick climbs the stairs to the cottage and Bill meets him at the door, telling Nick that Bill’s father is out in the woods with his gun. Bill and Nick stand together, looking out across the fields. They discuss the wind for the first time, with Bill saying “it will blow like that for three days.”
After they go inside the cottage, they decide to drink. Initially, they drink a bottle of Bill’s father’s already opened whiskey, mixing it with water. Later on, they do the same with a bottle of scotch
. Bill has Nick take off his shoes and dry them by the fire.
The two begin to discuss a variety of topics while drinking, such as different books they’re reading. Nick likes G. K. Chesterton
, while Bill prefers Hugh Walpole
. They also discuss baseball
; apparently, the two of them are both fans of the St. Louis Cardinals
, but Nick thinks that some of the games they lose are rigged, claiming “there’s always more to it than we know about.”
Throughout the night, they continue to drink and add logs to the fire. The topic of conversation moves onto their fathers and their differing occupations. Nick’s dad is a doctor, while Bill’s is a painter. Nick thinks his dad has missed very much because he has never drank, Bill says that “everything’s got its compensations.” The two also discuss what makes a drinker a drunkard.
During one scene, Nick goes into the kitchen to get more water, and while he’s there he passes a mirror. He smiles and winks at his reflection that “was not his face.”
Finally, after many drinks, Bill brings up an incident from the past. He tells Nick that he was “very wise” for not marrying Marge, assumingly a previous girlfriend of Nick’s. Bill gives several reasons why it was a good decision, while Nick just sits and listens and doesn’t reply. At first it seems to bother Nick a lot, claiming that everything was finished and gone and that he would never see her again.
However, the two decide to “get really drunk,” and Nick seems to change his mind about the whole situation, claiming that he felt happy and that “nothing was finished.” He resolves to go to town on Saturday because “there’s always a chance.”
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, first published in his collection In Our Time
In Our Time (book)
In Our Time is the first collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway published by Boni & Liveright in New York in 1925, after a smaller edition of the book, titled in our time, had been published in Paris in 1924...
in 1925. The story features Nick Adams
Nick Adams (character)
Nick Adams is a fictional character, the protagonist of two dozen short stories by American author Ernest Hemingway, written in the 1920s and 30s...
, one of Hemingway’s recurring protagonists, appearing in at least a dozen of Hemingway’s stories written during the 20s and 30s. The story is a fine example of Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory
Iceberg Theory
The Iceberg Theory is a term used to describe the writing style of American writer Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway is best known for works such as The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and The Old Man and the Sea...
.
Plot summary
The story only has two major characters, Nick and Bill (Marge, Nick’s father, and Bill’s father are mentioned but do not make an appearance), and the entire story takes place either inside or outside of Bill’s father’s cottage.The story begins with Nick walking around the orchard near the cabin. He picks up a Wagner apple and puts it in his pocket. Nick climbs the stairs to the cottage and Bill meets him at the door, telling Nick that Bill’s father is out in the woods with his gun. Bill and Nick stand together, looking out across the fields. They discuss the wind for the first time, with Bill saying “it will blow like that for three days.”
After they go inside the cottage, they decide to drink. Initially, they drink a bottle of Bill’s father’s already opened whiskey, mixing it with water. Later on, they do the same with a bottle of scotch
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
. Bill has Nick take off his shoes and dry them by the fire.
The two begin to discuss a variety of topics while drinking, such as different books they’re reading. Nick likes G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
, while Bill prefers Hugh Walpole
Hugh Walpole
Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, CBE was an English novelist. A prolific writer, he published thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, two plays and three volumes of memoirs. His skill at scene-setting, his vivid plots, his high profile as a lecturer and his driving ambition brought him a large...
. They also discuss baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
; apparently, the two of them are both fans of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, but Nick thinks that some of the games they lose are rigged, claiming “there’s always more to it than we know about.”
Throughout the night, they continue to drink and add logs to the fire. The topic of conversation moves onto their fathers and their differing occupations. Nick’s dad is a doctor, while Bill’s is a painter. Nick thinks his dad has missed very much because he has never drank, Bill says that “everything’s got its compensations.” The two also discuss what makes a drinker a drunkard.
During one scene, Nick goes into the kitchen to get more water, and while he’s there he passes a mirror. He smiles and winks at his reflection that “was not his face.”
Finally, after many drinks, Bill brings up an incident from the past. He tells Nick that he was “very wise” for not marrying Marge, assumingly a previous girlfriend of Nick’s. Bill gives several reasons why it was a good decision, while Nick just sits and listens and doesn’t reply. At first it seems to bother Nick a lot, claiming that everything was finished and gone and that he would never see her again.
However, the two decide to “get really drunk,” and Nick seems to change his mind about the whole situation, claiming that he felt happy and that “nothing was finished.” He resolves to go to town on Saturday because “there’s always a chance.”