The Sun Also Rises
Selflessness
In Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, we are taken back to the 1920’s, accompanied by the “Lost Generation.” During this time, prohibition was occurring in America. Hemingway uses alcohol as an obstacle that causes distresses between the main character, Jake and his life. Along with alcohol, promiscuity is prevalent throughout the novel. The heroine of the novel, Brett, displays the theme of promiscuity throughout the novel. She uses her sheer beauty and charming personality to lure men into her lonely life. The themes of alcohol and promiscuity intertwine with the Lost Generation in this classic love saga. To begin, Jake Barnes the protagonist is a journalist in Paris. He spent the earlier part of his life serving Italy in World War I. To put his mind at rest, Jake would drink until he became drunk, in order to escape reality. This became a way of life during, and subsequent the war. His drinking to escape the war parallels how he eases his mind pertaining to his love, Brett. In one dinner in particular, Jake depicts Brett looking beautiful in her black sleeveless dress. At the same time he realized Robert was admiring Brett. Immediately following his summary of the night, Jake says, “Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy” (Hemingway 150). This statement by Jake makes it obvious he is no longer socially drinking, but drinking to in excess to solve the problem at hand. Being drunk helped Jake cope with his friends and other men whom had affairs with Brett. However, by solving his problems with Brett, drinking caused other problems as well. Mike becomes quarrelsome with the aid of alcohol. He drinks in excess and is not safe to be around after a while of drinking. Alcohol loosens Jake up and he ends up saying things that he does not mean and when he wakes up the next day, he immediately regrets it. Next, Brett is no stranger to dampening her life because of excessive alcohol abuse. She drinks the night
In Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, we are taken back to the 1920’s, accompanied by the “Lost Generation.” During this time, prohibition was occurring in America. Hemingway uses alcohol as an obstacle that causes distresses between the main character, Jake and his life. Along with alcohol, promiscuity is prevalent throughout the novel. The heroine of the novel, Brett, displays the theme of promiscuity throughout the novel. She uses her sheer beauty and charming personality to lure men into her lonely life. The themes of alcohol and promiscuity intertwine with the Lost Generation in this classic love saga. To begin, Jake Barnes the protagonist is a journalist in Paris. He spent the earlier part of his life serving Italy in World War I. To put his mind at rest, Jake would drink until he became drunk, in order to escape reality. This became a way of life during, and subsequent the war. His drinking to escape the war parallels how he eases his mind pertaining to his love, Brett. In one dinner in particular, Jake depicts Brett looking beautiful in her black sleeveless dress. At the same time he realized Robert was admiring Brett. Immediately following his summary of the night, Jake says, “Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy” (Hemingway 150). This statement by Jake makes it obvious he is no longer socially drinking, but drinking to in excess to solve the problem at hand. Being drunk helped Jake cope with his friends and other men whom had affairs with Brett. However, by solving his problems with Brett, drinking caused other problems as well. Mike becomes quarrelsome with the aid of alcohol. He drinks in excess and is not safe to be around after a while of drinking. Alcohol loosens Jake up and he ends up saying things that he does not mean and when he wakes up the next day, he immediately regrets it. Next, Brett is no stranger to dampening her life because of excessive alcohol abuse. She drinks the night
Cited: Baker, Carlos. Hemingway: The Writer As Artist. Princeton University Press. 1974. Farrell, James. The Sun Also Rises. The League of Frightened Philistines. New York: Vanguard Press. 20-24. 1945. Fulton, Lorie. "Reading around Jake 's Narration: Brett Ashley and the Sun Also Rises." The Hemingway Review 24(2004): Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. (1926) New York: Scribner, 1954. Savola, David. ""A very sinister book": The Sun Also Rises as critique of pastoral.." The Hemingway Review (2006):