The Snows of Kilimanjaro (short story collection)

Transcription

This is a story about a husband and wife who are stranded in the African countryside. The man, Harry, is an aspiring writer who has traded writing for the luxurious lifestyle, as he jumps from relationship to relationship with rich women who spoil him. The woman, Helen, is middle aged and rich. She became lonely after her husband died and she turned to drinking and men for comfort. Their relationship and marriage is rocky and they detest each other, yet both understand who the other person is and their faults. Harry is suffering from gangrene to his leg, an infection that he acquired after spending time in the African countryside. Usually, the couple goes on luxurious vacations, but Harry wanted to experience something more rugged in hopes to spark his passion for writing, which he has failed to do because of lack of motivation. Harry recounts the various places he’s been and events he wishes he could have written about. After reflecting on his life and the missed opportunities he wishes he could take back, he sits on his cot and waits for death to come. At first, Harry is not afraid of death, but as he realizes that he is dying, he becomes afraid. Death engulfs him and he wishes he could scream for help, but he can’t. However, just as death is upon him, a rescue plane arrives that only has room for one. Harry is loaded into the plane, but then realizes that they aren’t flying towards help. They are flying toward Mt. Kilimanjaro. In the end, the rescue didn’t happen and Harry died in the tent next to his wife.