Critiques Of Male Stereotypes `` Reunion `` And Ernest...

Jacob Gaber English 220 Professor Hunter 26 September 2017 Author’s Critiques of Male Stereotypes Both John Cheever’s story â€Å"Reunion† and Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† has a character that embodies the stereotypes of masculinity. Although the characters are both embodying the stereotypes of masculinity, there are differences between the two characters as well as similarities. Hemingway and Cheever use their characters’ behaviors and personality traits to embody and criticize the masculine norms. The father character in Cheever’s story embodies the stereotypes of masculinity. Some examples of stereotypes of masculinity that the father depicts are not being a coward, emotionless, a bully, and an inferred alcoholic. The†¦show more content†¦This lack of caring continues when he has his secretary respond instead of taking the time to reach out to Charlie himself. This shows that he doesn’t really care about their relationship and is nonchalant about meeting with him. One can assume that his motive for meeting with his son was to feel important and show off. This is obvious when he talks about his club and it seems that the status of his club is more important to him than his son. It can be inferred that he is an alcoholic which is another stereotype of a man. This is shown throughout the story. He continually orders alcoholic beverages for him and his son, is loud and obnoxious just like an alcoholic, and when Charlie smells his father and said he smells like â€Å"†¦ a rich compound of whiskey.† (Cheever, 1) Like the father in Cheever’s story, the American man in Hemingway’s story embodies the stereotypes of masculinity. Some examples of stereotypes of masculinity that the American character depicts are manipulative, controlling, condescending, emotionless, and rational. The American man is manipulative throughout the story. He continuously tries to convince Jig, the female protagonist in the story, to get the abortion. This is shown when he says, â€Å"’It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,’ the man said. ‘It’s not really an operation at all’† (Hemingway, 2). This shows that he is attempting to downplay the abortion procedure and manipulate her