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Did Harry die at the end of the story?
Although Hemingway does not explicitly state whether Harry dies at the end of the story, the context would suggest that this is the most likely conclusion. Harry predicts that he will die soon, and he sees the hyena prowling near their camp as a symbol of his encroaching death. The form of death then approaches Harry, crouching on his chest so that the weight keeps him from speaking. Death is no longer on the outskirts but has arrived in full. Harry states that the rescue plane comes for him the next morning. However, signs point to this plane being a dream or figment of Harry’s imagination, and an allegory for his transition into the next world. The plane has only enough room to hold Harry and not his companions, so he flies off without them while they wave goodbye. Although the plane should need to stop for fuel, it instead flies on through a great storm, finally arriving at the peak of Kilimanjaro. The western summit of the mountain is named “the House of God,” and Hemingway’s inclusion of this fact at the beginning of the story hints that, by reaching this summit, Harry has left the mortal world. Additionally, Helen’s horrified reaction in the final lines of the story suggests that she has discovered Harry’s corpse in the tent, meaning he never actually flew on the plane to Kilimanjaro.
Who is Compton?
Compton is the pilot of the rescue plane that arrives for Harry at the end of the story. However, as it becomes clear that the plane is not real, but rather a figment of Harry’s imagination or a metaphor for his transition from life to death, Compton’s identity becomes more ambiguous. Harry seems to recognize him and feel comfortable in his presence, to the extent that he even refers to him by a nickname (Compie). Compton may simply be a pilot living in Kenya whom Harry had previously been introduced to, but it’s also possible—and perhaps more likely—that Compton is a figure from Harry’s past. He may be a friend from Harry’s war days, or from his time in Paris. Regardless, Hemingway never reveals the truth of Compton’s relation to Harry, or why he in particular appears to usher Harry into death. Many of the intimate details of Harry’s life—Compton’s identity included—are hinted at, but still remain in shadow by the end of the story.
How did Harry become ill?
Before the events of “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” Harry scratched his knee while attempting to photograph waterbucks during their safari. Having never been prone to infection in the past, Harry didn’t think much of the scratch and forgot to treat the small wound with iodine. Later, the wound became infected, but Harry didn’t have enough antiseptics, and so he had to make do with what he refers to as a “weak carbolic solution.” Unfortunately, this solution exacerbates the infection instead of healing it, resulting in gangrene. Gangrene occurs when the body’s tissue begins to die, generally due to bacterial infections. This means that the site around the initial wound is essentially rotting away while the person is still alive. The spread of gangrene will eventually overtake entire limbs and is fatal if left untreated.
Why did Harry marry Helen?
Harry admits several times, both out loud and internally, that he does not actually love Helen. He cares for her and knows that she is a good person and caretaker, but he does not love her. As he explores this feeling, it becomes clear that Harry and Helen’s marriage is one of convenience.
Harry, once a working-class man living in a poor neighborhood of Paris, married Helen for the wealth and comfort she could provide him. Ultimately, Harry wants to avoid reckoning with his own past and feelings, and Helen’s money and adventurous personality give him the opportunity to distract himself with travel and luxury. He doesn’t love her, but he chooses to spend his life with her in material comfort rather than face the challenging yet vital memories and emotions tied to his complicated, traumatic past.
What happened to Helen’s previous husband and family?
Helen’s first husband died when she was still relatively young, when both of their children had reached young adulthood. Helen was devoted to her husband, and her grief caused her to turn to alcohol. Later, she began to take lovers, as she struggled to sleep without a companion in bed with her. However, while Helen’s lovers helped to take the edge off her loneliness, they never lived up to her late husband. Helen, who values adventure, found her lovers boring in comparison to her husband. When one of Helen’s children dies in a plane crash, she realizes she cannot cope with this second loss via lovers and alcohol, so she decides instead to reinvent her life. This reinvention involves finding a new companion whom she can truly love and respect—thus, she marries Harry and finances their travels and adventures together.
