Style of "Popular Mechanics"

This short story was written in what seemed like a rather informal style. The most obvious informality was that it lacked quotation marks around the husband and wife's statements. There was also a common pattern present. Each line switched between the husband and the wife yelling at each other and arguing.

"I want the baby, he said.

Are you crazy?

No, but I want the baby. I'll get someone to come by for his things.

You're not touching the baby, she said," (344, handout).

This back and forth arguing coincided with the couple's "tug of war". Their yelling back and forth was similar to their tugging back and forth of the baby in the end.

3. Style

As the novel progresses and more characters begin to interact, Hemingway's style begins to become more consistent. One of many examples is found on page 24 during the meeting of Jake and Georgette:

"What are you called?"

"Georgette. How are you called?"

"Jacob."

"That's a Flemish name."

"American too."

"You're not Flamand?"

"No, American."

"Good, I detest Flamands."

When Jake and his friends or other acquaintances converse, they use short and simple sentences. Often times they merely use incomplete phrases. It seems like the characters all lack any sort of enthusiasm or motivation for anything because of such simplicity in speech. They never seem very personable within dialogue, but maybe this was just the custom in Paris at the time. Jake especially seems to maintain an uninterested, lackluster tone no matter who he is speaking with, which I feel may fit his personality.