(Hemingway, 126-127)
Literary Term: Allusion
After enjoying some fishing, Bill and Jacob sit down for lunch involving some hard-boiled eggs and chicken legs. Being educated goobers, they partook in a lengthy discussion in which to eat first in concern to the theory of which came first: the chicken or the egg. This discussion contains an allusion to the ancient philosophical question that challenges the orientation of the universe, and such talk leads them into crude joking about the church. I think this conversation works not only as an allusion, but also a representation of the attitude of the characters of this book. Most of the characters don't hold much concern for the past or future, rather they choose to live in the present. Jacob is always reading the current paper. Mike never ceases to borrow money. Brett has no desire to commit to one person. It simply doesn't matter which came first.
check (I say the egg)
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