The Paris Wife

As the protagonist and first-person narrator of the novel, Hadley undergoes a significant transformation, evolving from a sheltered and self-doubting woman into an individual who must forge her own identity after being defined by her famous husband. She is a round and dynamic character whose journey centrally informs the theme of Defining the Self in a Man’s World. When the novel opens, Hadley is living a quiet, constrained life in St. Louis, haunted by family tragedies and feeling as if she has “gotten stuck along the way” (5). Her initial outlook is one of timid hope, reliant on the idea that she can “[m]ake believe [she is] glad when [she’s] sorry” to find happiness(5). Her meeting with the vibrant Ernest Hemingway acts as a catalyst, offering her an escape from her past and a chance to feel truly alive. However, her identity quickly becomes intertwined with his, and she embraces the role of the supportive, stabilizing force for a brilliant but wounded artist.

In the early years of their marriage in Paris, Hadley finds purpose in her role as Ernest’s primary supporter and confidante. She creates a domestic world that serves as a sanctuary from his war trauma and a foundation for his creative ambition.