Hemingway’s “Killers”: George and Nick

The Hemingway’s short story, “The Killers”, begins in a small restaurant, where two men like a vaudeville team, Al
and Max enters a small restaurant, when Nick, a young boy is talking to George who is managing this estaurant with a black cook, Sam. Meantime, Al and Max reveal that they are going to kill Ole Anderson, an ex- heavyweight boxer, to oblige to their friend when he comes to the restaurant. Al ties Sam and Nick in the kitchen and Max threatens George at the counter. While the two go out giving up waiting for Anderson, Nick goes to Anderson’s room in advance to tell him the event. Anderson has been sick in bed and doesn’t take any action to avoid the anxiety. Nick returns to the restaurant and talks what to do.

In this story, Nick’s reaction looks the most humane. He is described as a naïve and pure young boy. After the
 two men (the killers) go out, and the urgent danger leaves in the restaurant, Nick bravely answers “All right” to
 George when he is told to go to see Ole Anderson and to tell him the killers’ visit. Nick trusts George and tries
 to learn from him. Nick shows he can take his positive opinion when he says “I’m going get out of this town”
 (P98) I expect he begins from here his long travelling of his life. How will Nick grow up as a man? I’d like to
encourage his development as a human being keeping his good sense long in the future. At the same time,
I admire George’s matured manner as an adult that he shows calmly to the two men’s threat. I hope Nick will
 grow as he considers George as his positive role model.