The Sun Also Rises

The characters of the novel belong to the post-war generation and all suffer from the effects of the war, whether directly or indirectly. An injury sustained in the war has made Jake Barnes sexually impotent; the war has caused Lady Brett Ashley to lose her true love; and Robert Cohn who never experienced the war has difficulty interacting with those who have.

Jake Barnes, the protagonist, narrates the story as if he were writing his autobiography. The chapters are written like journal entries as he describes events that happened. Through his past observations the reader gets a sense of Jake's values.

Jake has a particular respect for bull fights. Because of his own experiences in the war he can no longer ignore the concept of death and he is thus sympathetic to the bullfighters who regularly confront death first hand. The matador makes a profession out of confrontations with his enemy and manages to turn it into an art form as he evades and conquers death.

The awe with which Jake views this game of death is evident in a remark he makes to Robert Cohn. He explains to R

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nineteen-year-old matador. Additionally, Jake has hurt a lot of others by introducing the two, while knowing full well Brett would run off with him. Montoya, the owner of a restaurant in Pamplona, and friend of Jake's, had asked Jake to help him protect Romero from the foreigners in town. Montoya could see that Romero was destined for a long, successful career as a matador and was worried that the ill effects of too much drink and women might ruin him. Jake assured Montoya that he would tend to the matter, then went right ahead and introduced Romero to Brett, knowing full well that she has a reputation of ruining men. Jake's betrayal of his friend is symbolized by the change in the weather. The morning before Jake's betrayal, the weather abruptly changes. When he awakens it is raining and a dense fog has enveloped the mountains. "The plateau was dull and gloomy, and the shapes of the trees and the houses were changes" (170). The rain soaked the flags which decorated the square, and caused them to hang limp. Additionally, it drove the people out of the streets, and left the place dark and deserted. Brett's liaison also has an adverse effect on Brett's fiance, Mike, and Robert, whom she once had a brief affair with. B
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Approximate Word count = 1407
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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