City and suburban life have taken most men out of their natural habitat and lodged us firmly in a world filled with hustle and bustle, where there is little rest and even less relaxation. In fact, modern men seem to lack all connection to the traditional concepts of masculinity as typified by Ernest Hemingway.
Hemingway was history’s one true man’s man; he hunted big game in Africa, sailed the oceans, wooed women around the world, and smoked cigars until his lungs gave out, but he also respected people’s intricacy and understood humanity’s needs at a fundamental level. He spoke and wrote extensively about what men should strive for. More often than not, he expounded on the simple pleasures men can take in the sights, smells, and sounds of earth, sea, and sky. If you are a modern man looking for more masculinity in your life, try picking up any of these six Hemingway-approved hobbies for any male hero.
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1. Hunting
Our cultural tradition states that men have been responsible for bringing home dinner since humans walked on two legs, and until recently, that means men hunted the forests and plains for animals to feed their families. Hemingway was a boisterous advocate of hunting, not only for the hobby’s ability to provide resources but for the act’s ability to forge deep connections between humans and nature. As explained by Hook & Barrel Magazine, hunting with rifles requires courage and passion as well as precision and respect — these are the elements of a Hemingway hero. If you are serious about hunting with an arrow, you need to buy an arrow quiver.
While different types of hunting require different gun types, owning a firearm opens up the possibility to start hunting. You can visit website to find the right gun for you.
If hunting is not for you but you’re still into guns, you may want to try visiting an indoor firing range.
2. Boating
For most enthusiasts, boats are more than seafaring vessels; they are companions and confidantes during all types of literal and figurative weather — bad or good. For Hemingway, a 38-foot fishing boat named Pilar was the only true and reliable constant in a life filled with personal and professional tragedy. The vessel became his sanctuary later in life, and Hemingway frequently included in his works tributes to the power of boats on the open sea.
While contemporary boats may be more glamorous than the rigs of Hemingway’s day, you can still experience the thrill of boating by electing to buy a watercraft of your own, new or used, complete with backup batteries and safety equipment. Indeed, there is nothing quite as peaceful as watching a sun rise over the water and spending a day catching one’s dinner off the back of your best seaworthy friend. If your fiberglass boat has some damages, you may look for a company that specializes in Boat Fiberglass Repair services.
3. Fishing
While on the topic of water-inspired pleasures, fishing is another masculine activity perfect for those who want to cultivate a worthwhile hobby. Fishing isn’t particularly expensive or difficult, though it does take practice and patience to perfect; plus, success in fishing is largely predicated on luck, and novice fishers may wait whole days without so much as a nibble. Still, time spent in nature and reconnecting with one’s own maleness is never time wasted. After all, Pilar, Hemingway’s beloved boat, was a first and foremost a fishing vessel, so it is clear Papa placed profound importance on putting a line in the water.
4. Writing
Hemingway is famous for saying that a boy has become a man when he has accomplished four tasks:
- 1. Plant a tree
- 2. Fight a bull
- 3. Have a son
- 4. Write a book
While the first three don’t require any advanced practice or skill cultivation other than hard work and courage, the fourth, “write a book,” necessitates years of habitual action to become any good. However, choosing to write as a hobby is grueling but ultimately greatly rewarding work. Writing, or any creative expression, is a method of preserving one’s thoughts for future generations, and effort put into drafting a great piece of writing is rewarded: Hemingway, despite his myriad faults, continues to be highly respected as one of America’s true heroes.
5. Teaching
Hemingway was known for his quiet and seemingly indifferent demeanor; after all, one of his nicknames was Ernestoic. However, his taciturn mannerisms in person did not necessarily reflect his inner views on communication and education. Because Hemingway believed in the importance and power of tradition, he was interested in teaching those traditions to later generations, particularly his sons. The lesson here is that dispassionate does not equate with withholding; men should take every opportunity to teach all they know, and only then will they be accurate models of masculinity.
6. Loving
Despite his reputation for crafting unlovable female characters, Hemingway always advocated on the side of love. Hemingway knew love as an uncontrollable force that had the power to both create and destroy, but never did Hemingway flinch away from passionate feelings. The real definition of masculinity may be ever-changing, but it must forever include the most indispensable tenant of humanity: love.
By Jasmine Howard
Jasmine Howard is a freelance writer who touches on various topics and niches that relate to her everyday life. In addition to writing in her free time she also enjoys traveling and getting to know the world around her.
About Douglas Smythe
