The People - Other female figures in FEAST

Hemingway:

In the early days of Hemingway's life in Paris, he lived with little money and an address of 74 rue Cardinal Lemoine, which instantly classified his existence in Paris as a poor one. In search of books to borrow, Hemingway nervously entered the popular library and bookstore known as Shakespeare and Company. His nerves came from the lack of money he had for a library subscription, but to his surprise, the owner, Sylvia Beach was generous, kind and most importantly, trusting. 

Hemingway recorded his first interaction with Sylvia and wrote "No one that I ever knew was nicer to me." Whether or not she was able to instantly judge his character, Hemingway recalled that there was absolutely no reason for her to trust him and given his address, the reasoning only weakened. 

Not only did she offer this stranger a handful of books to borrow, she later on invited he and his wife to dinner at their home. Within this short passage, summarizing Hemingway's interaction with Sylvia, he has given his readers a warm description with such clarity that one may feel as welcome to Sylvia's store as he did. 


Sylvia: 

In Sylvia's later life, around 1956, she wrote a memoir entitled Shakespeare and Company. Within this book, she recounts her interactions with many poignant writers of her time, including Hemingway. In this instance, we are able to compare Hemingway's initial reaction to Sylvia, while reading her own words as she writes of the war. 

From Hemingway's brief profile of Sylvia, an image of a bright, youthful woman with "pretty legs" and a warm heart, effortlessly defines my impression of this woman. However, in her memoirs, more specifically around the time of Nazi occupation in Paris, her actions with Hemingway begin to make sense. Before the occupation, the United States strongly urged all Americans living in Paris to return. Sylvia strongly opposed the idea, and "settled down to share life in Nazi-occupied Paris with (her) friends." Forced to comply with many of the restrictions that her Jewish friends were given, her love for Paris and culture of the French became apparent. 

Within the letters from James Joyce to Sylvia Beach, more specifically an unsent letter from Sylvia, her true character, hidden behind the brief description Hemingway gave, becomes clear. 

Within the unsent letter, Sylvia outlines the stress and complications that Joyce has placed on her shoulders and takes a firm stance against his seemingly exploitative approach. Although, having chosen to withhold the letter, I believe that this better demonstrates her character than any sentence that Hemingway composed.

Her strong will to oppose Nazi occupation, America's pressure on its citizens to return, and Joyce's constant demands, demonstrate her ability to thrive in numerous situations while doing her best to forward the careers and lives of her friends.