To Have And Have Not

Most major plot events occur over the open water between Florida and Cuba. What role does the ocean play in the novel? Consider the actions of characters while on the water and how the ocean reveals certain characteristics that are not present on land.

Harry, the main character, commits many murders over the course of the text. Are these murders driven more by a need for self-preservation or by a sense of justice and retribution?

The book moves fluidly between numerous first-person, third-person, and omniscient points-of-view. What are the advantages and disadvantages of switching points-of-view so frequently? How would the book be different if it were written entirely from Harry’s perspective?

What impact did Hemingway’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War have on the creation of the novel?

Structurally, the novel was originally written (and published) in piecemeal form. How is this fragmentation expressed in the continuity of plot and character development?

The novel greatly emphasizes the concept of masculinity. How does this desire to exhibit masculine bravado make certain characters both toxic and fragile?

Harry’s comments seem to judge and condemn the radical nature of the Cuban revolutionaries, yet his own ideas are seen as radical by other Conchs. What similarities exist between Harry and the men he transports on the boat?

Chapter 24’s omniscient narration takes readers into the secret lives of many of the “Haves” as it moves across each yacht in the marina. What is ironic about the lives of the “Haves”?