Big Two-Hearted River: Part II Summary & Analysis

The river, which Nick finds comforting, is bordered by the dark, unpredictable swamp, which will cause Nick much anxiety. He takes in both of these aspects of nature—these are, perhaps, the “two hearts” of the Big Two-Hearted River.

Nick’s knowledge of the natural world is impressive, as demonstrated here by his familiarity with the habits of grasshoppers. This is why he loves being in this wilderness he knows so well—he is confident of his expertise (on fishing, setting up camp, and the wildlife around), and this knowledge gives him a feeling of control. 

Nick predicted that the grasshoppers would be impossible to catch once they warmed up, and he is proven right—he is indeed very knowledgeable in these matters. He knows he will be able to find more grasshoppers under the same log every day, which establishes that this environment is comfortingly predictable to him, and he is already establishing routines. Nick also comes across as a kind person when he makes sure the grasshoppers in the bottle can breathe. He is using them as bait, so it doesn’t really matter to him if they are living or dead, but he takes the trouble to ensure they aren’t suffering as long as they are alive.

The reader is reminded that Nick is very meticulous and takes pleasure in completing small tasks. His attention to detail suggests that it is important to him to ensure that order is maintained around him. He is thorough with every task at hand, whether he is making a breakfast he isn’t even keen on eating or getting his fly-fishing rod ready for the adventure he has been looking forward to all along. Given that Nick’s life in the military would certainly have been stressful and regimented beyond his control, these self-implemented routines likely comfort Nick and give him a sense of agency and stability.

Nick thinks he is completely prepared for fishing trout, with all his gear at hand. But when he enters the river, the cold water is a “shock,” suggesting that there are elements of nature—and perhaps of life in general—that will surprise even someone like Nick, who is obsessive in his planning. Regardless of one’s expectations and preparations, some things, Hemingway implies, will always be an unexpected “shock.”

The description of the grasshopper dying on the fishhook is intentionally graphic, as Nick is likely hyper-aware of pain and death given his experiences in World War I. Nick pays close attention to the grasshopper’s suffering, and thinks of the insect as a “him,” not an “it.” Nick not only has a deep knowledge of the natural world and these creatures, but also seems to respect and care for them.

Again, Nick is courteous to the creatures around him, whether they are insects or trout. He makes sure to wet his hand before he touches the small trout because he does not want to get it sick by touching it with a dry hand. Nick wants to check on it to make sure it is fine after he puts it back in the river and is relieved to find that it is, suggesting that his experiences as a soldier have made him more conscious of the suffering of other beings than the average civilian.

While Nick has a deep knowledge of and reverence for the natural world, he recognizes that many other people don’t and prefers to avoid them. These details set Nick apart from other people, suggesting that he is kinder and more sensitive than most, which might be why he seems to be experiencing intense emotional suffering after the war.

Nick seems most comfortable in the shallow waters of the river, but he wants to catch bigger trout which favor the deeper water. As he wades deeper into the river, he grows increasingly aware of the presence of the swamp.

The big trout that Nick catches and loses demonstrates that nature, like the world at large, is not always as obedient and predictable as he would like it to be. The pull this fish exerts on the line is described as being “dangerous,” suggesting that this fish will be unmanageable despite Nick’s careful preparations—clearly, Nick cannot always be in control, and this disconcerts him. His disappointment at losing the fish further unnerves him, making him physically ill and weak. This seems like an overreaction, but given the emotional trauma Nick has likely been through, it’s understandable that even a minor unexpected event could cause him distress.

When Nick thinks of the fish, he vividly imagines it under the water. He seems to feel guilty about the hook in its jaw, and nervous that it might be angry. The big trout seems powerful in these descriptions—definitely more powerful than Nick, who is feeling sick and cannot even stand. Thus, when Nick fails to exert his control over nature, he feels frustratingly powerless and this intimidates him.

This episode further reveals the extent of Nick’s emotional trauma—a small setback is enough to trigger a massive reaction in him. He needs to leave the scene of the episode to try and calm down and give himself time to process his emotions. He observes unthreatening, benevolent nature—the light on the shallow water, a tiny trout—which comforts him.

Nick manages to catch a big trout. He makes sure that the fish he catches is comfortable, filling the sack with water and ensuring that it stays underwater so the trout can breathe. Nick’s erratic emotions do not distract him from his basic kindness. 

Nick’s deep knowledge of fishing and the river are the highlight of this passage. He is successful in catching the second trout because he is so well-versed in their habits. Despite Nick’s trepidations, he doesn’t feel completely out of his element in the shallow waters of this stream, so he decides to give it a try anyway and succeeds in catching his second big trout. Although he is undoubtedly sensitive and dependent upon certainty and control, it’s clear that Nick is also able to be courageous and push past his discomfort when he wants to.   

Just as before, Nick makes sure the two trout he caught are comfortable in the water before he eats his lunch. Afterward, he looks at the river, which then flows into the swamp. The swamp seems impenetrable to him, hinting at the anxiety that it will come to induce in him.

While looking at the swamp, Nick wishes for a book—perhaps to escape thinking about this mysterious area. While Nick hasn’t yet entered the swamp, he is imagining what it might feel like to go in there. The descriptions are sensory and physically uncomfortable: feeling the water “deepening up under his armpits” and seeing the “half light.” He uses a rather melodramatic word, “tragic,” to describe the fishing in the swamp. Perhaps the real tragedy he fears is that he will lose the control that is so important to him—this probably reminds him of his time at war when he had no control over his life or actions. In this sense, the swamp symbolizes the repressed traumas and emotions that Nick is too afraid to face in himself, for fear of losing his tenuous sense of stability. Nick fears that the water in the swamp is too deep, its trees are too close together, and it is too dark—it seems like a claustrophobic nightmare. Similarly, his own painful experiences seem too dark and deep in his mind to confront.  Fishing in the swamp will be a test of his mental stability, and Nick is not convinced that he is up to the challenge.

Nick kills the two trout he caught in the most humane way recommended by seasoned fishermen. His knowledge of fish and fishing comes through in the easy manner in which he cleans them, and his competence and ease here is a stark contrast to the trepidation he feels about the swamp.

When Nick washes the trout in the stream, they look like they are alive—a trick of perception, of course, since they are in fact dead. As Nick heads back to camp, he turns for one last look at the river. His final thought in the story is an optimistic one, with Nick thinking that he has a lot of days to fish in the swamp. Though the thought of entering the swamp that day filled him with deep anxiety, he seems to think that in a few days, he will be ready for the challenge. Given that the swamp symbolizes Nick’s unresolved traumas, his optimism about fishing there implies that although he is too afraid to face his emotions now, he knows that one day he will be ready to do so.