Hemingway and Pound

Hemingway’s relationship with Ezra Pound was very beneficial to Hemingway. Pound was a role model and most likely the only person Hemingway saw in this light. He admires Pound’s character so much that he goes so far as to call him “a saint.” Pound surely demonstrates the kindness of one when he organizes the charity Bel Esprit to support T.S. Eliot to make it possible for him to retire from banking in order to devote to writing full time. Hemingway adopts this project as readily as if it was his own idea. He solicits donations from friends against the wishes of Eliot, who is not in favor of Heminway tricking people into thinking that they are financing an ex enlisted man. In the end, Eliot manages to find his own source of sufficient money to extract himself from the banking business. This hurts Hemingway more than it should. He wanted the scholarship partnership between himself and Pound to be the reason Eliot began to write professionally. Whether he takes this to heart so severely is due to the fact that it was done in partnership with Pound is not stated.

This loyal adoration of Pound also meant that Hemingway felt protective of him as well. He took it upon himself to make sure that Pound was shown in his best light even when it came to activities as inconsequential as boxing. When they were sparring in Pound’s studio one afternoon Hemingway knew the other man was out of practice, so he went easy on Pound so that he would not look bad in front of his “friend.” The “friend” was Wyndham Lewis. The man immediately gave Hemingway vibes that told him that Lewis was observing only to see Pound fail. There was a sleazy air about him that Hemingway attempted to ignore at future meetings, but was unable to do. He shared these thoughts with Gertrude Stein who herself called him a ‘Measuring Worm’ for the way he measured people’s paintings so that he could then return to London where he did inaccurate recreations of them. He does not share his or Stein’s feelings with Pound, but he is always sure to watch Lewis very carefully whenever they meet.

Hemingway was not wrong to enjoy Pound’s company. He seemed to be a sensitive, observant person who made for pleasant company. His poem ‘Portrait d’une femme’ describes a woman with whom the author seems to have an interest in. He is aware of both her beauty and imperfections that this is the way she is. There is no question as to if he would like to change her or not. What is written is the portrait of a woman. It is written as fact, giving the illusion of a lack of bias, but there is at least a small amount of it since a note of fondness can be detected.

Hamingway’s relationship with Ezra Pound was surely one of his most valued relationships. Hemingway learned something from almost everything Pound did. He continually taught Hemingway how to be more generous, thoughtful and kind. They shared a beneficial brotherly love and Hemingway would have been a different person without him.