Here's why:
* Break from Traditional Narrative: Hemingway's writing style departed from traditional, ornate prose. He championed concise language, simple sentence structure, and an objective, almost journalistic tone. This rejection of literary conventions was a hallmark of modernism.
* Focus on the Individual: Modernist literature often focused on the inner lives and experiences of individuals, and Hemingway's works explore themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a fragmented world. His protagonists often grapple with existential questions and struggle with the complexities of human nature.
* Themes of War and Loss: Hemingway's experiences in World War I deeply impacted his writing, and he often explored the themes of violence, trauma, and the fragility of life. This emphasis on the dark realities of the modern world was characteristic of modernist literature.
* Rejection of Romanticism: Modernism sought to move away from the idealism and sentimentality of romanticism, and Hemingway's writing reflects this shift. His characters are often flawed and pragmatic, facing the harsh realities of life with stoicism and resilience.
While some argue that Hemingway might not fit neatly into all categories of modernism, his works undeniably share many of the movement's defining characteristics. He is a significant voice in the modernist literary canon, impacting subsequent generations of writers with his minimalist style and profound exploration of human experience in a changing world.