Conflict forces the cast to adapt, to survive, to thrive. Many great stories have a war or conflict going on, in the forefront or in the background. Even after this conflict America and Russia are still wary of each other. These two nations had opposed each other in the Cold War for almost 45 years, no actual fighting ever occurred but it seemed war could erupt at any time. Tensions between the U.S and Russia escalated almost to the point of Nuclear War. 25 years after the publication of “To Have and Have Not” was one of the most alarming times in American history, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Hemingway's novel has been and is still relevant. He drops that fire many times during the novel, not taking disrespect from anyone. Harry included, Harry is a real gangster and could body many current rappers if he were a real person. Harry encounters Cuban revolutionaries, illegal Chinese, coast guards, alcoholics, and many more exciting people. All the while Key West is involved in the political turmoil in nearby Cuba and the book is full of Marxist undertones. He resorts to human trafficking, stealing alcohol, and (accidentally) a getaway driver (boater?) for a bank robbery. All Harry has now are his own two hands and his loyal boat. Eventually though, he gets swindled by an inattentive customer who then flees instead of paying for his own mistake, leaving Harry with a hefty debt.

However, Harry is surviving off of being a fishing tour guide. Taking care of 4 women is hard even when there isn't an economic depression. Main character Harry Morgan has a wife and 3 daughters to take care of.

At this point in time, having a wife and many kids was a social expectation, whereas now if you had more than 2 kids many would question your sanity.

The story was published in 1937 and takes play in Key West, Florida. Ernest Hemingway's “To Have and Have Not” is classic story concerning one man's fall into poverty and how he attempts to retake his spot via illegal activities.

To have and have not hemingway