Description of Main Character

Elizabeth “Hadley” Richardson was born November 9 1891. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri with four siblings along with her Mother and Father. While Hadley was a child, she fell out of a second story window, which led to her Mother being overly protective. During her teenage years, her Father committed suicide due to financial struggles. A few years later her sister Dorothea died from severe burns from a house fire. That same year, Hadley attended Bryn Mawr college, however her mother pulled her out because she was “too delicate, both emotionally and physically.” The following years included little activities for Hadley because her Mother and sister were extremely protective and worried for her health. After one summer spent with an old college friend, Katy Smith in Vermont, her Mother was worried and ordered Hadley home. That same year, Hadley’s Mother developed Bright’s Disease. Hadley nursed her Mother till her death.

After her mother’s death, Hadley visited Katy Smith in Chicago. She met Ernest Hemingway through Katy and the spark lit. Later that year, Hadley announced her engagement. Her sister and friends did not like the idea, however Hadley, being faithful and honest to herself, felt this was right and ignored their comments.

Including faithful and honest, Hadley was also dependent during her marriage with Ernest. During times when Ernest left to write and get books published, Hadley felt depressed and alone. She was a caring mother toward her child and a loving wife toward Ernest. Despite trying to be her own person and not follow popular trends, she cut her hair short like the other women of Paris. Before her life with Ernest, Hadley had a slight ambition to become a pianist. She would play everyday back at home in St. Louis, but with all the tragedies, she stopped. Hadley was insecure; she always compared herself to others, which did not help her insecurities. Being surrounded by rich well-dressed women, she felt she was in their shadow, especially with Lady Duff. Lady Duff and Ernest got along very well, which made Hadley jealous. One of Hadley’s dominant traits would be that she was easily jealous. Whether it is a woman’s outfit or their long legs or their relationship with Ernest, Hadley was jealous. But most of all, she was jealous of Ernest’s ambition and capability to go after what he wants.

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