One common strand that runs through all of the stories are the effects of the war upon its participants. Nick Adams of "In out time" seeks to escape the harsh environment of war by enveloping himself in nature, most notably in "The Big Two-Hearted River." In the opening scene of "The Big Two-Hearted River" Nick is upset over the destruction of the town of Seney. The town, which Nick said was not there, was burned …showed first 75 words of 804 total…

…showed last 75 words of 804 total…time is the most uncontrollable facet of life. Life can change in an instant, as happened to Henry in "Farewell to Arms." Hemingway believes people should accept the uncontrollable idea of time and experience life as much as possible. Another idea that Hemingway presents is that there is no such thing as "The Good Life" you only have the life that you are faced with, which in many cases is filled with disappointment and rejection.