"Now I Lay Me" is a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

by American author

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century f ...

, the title is taken from the prayer above. It is a part of Ernest Hemingway's collection of short stories titled '' Men Without Women'', which was published in 1927.

Description

The short story takes place in war-torn Europe, specifically in Italy, which Hemingway chose due to his firsthand experiences there. "Now I Lay Me" is a short story about two men sleeping in a tent. However simple a story it may be, it reveals the psyche of military men. Although it is never completely affirmed, the context of the story suggests that the two men are injured and in some sort of a military or hospital tent. The main character, Nick Adams, refuses to sleep while it is dark outside, claiming that he is fearful of losing his soul. However, it is implied that he actually suffers from a form of

PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on ...

from a previous raid. The other man in the tent, Nick's orderly John, also has difficulty sleeping. This short story goes deep into Nick’s mind and shows the reader what he does to make it through the night. The discussion between the two men concludes the rest of the story, John referring to Nick as 'Signor Tenente' (Sir Lieutenant).Characters in Now I Lay Me
Retrieved 1/10/2020. “Now I Lay Me” is a prime example of the cynicism that characterizes the writing of the

Lost Generation The Lost Generation was the social generational cohort in the Western world that was in early adulthood during World War I. "Lost" in this context refers to the "disoriented, wandering, directionless" spirit of many of the war's survivors in th ...

References

External links

Full text of "Now I Lay Me" at HathiTrust Digital Library
* Short stories by Ernest Hemingway 1927 short stories Autobiographical short stories {{1920s-story-stub