WWI Effects and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
The After Effects of the War in The Sun Also Rises
Ernest Hemmingway was an intellectual writer who used characters, setting, and action in the novel, The Sun Also Rises, to convey many themes. He is also known to be a writer about the World War I time period. Thus, World War I has affected each of the characters in the novel in one-way or another. The war serves to haunt many of the characters and is the source of great pain in the book. Two characters that are specifically affected by the war are Jake and Brett. The reader can gain a view of some of the detriment that occurred during the war by analyzing these two characters.
Even though the reader knows little detail about the characters' lives, it is for certain that each was affected by the war on some level. Jake, for instance, is known to be "sick." (34) Jake's lack of masculinity causes him difficulties in coping with his love for Brett. Brett is physically driven, and, even though she loves Jake, she knows she would never be satisfied with him. She claims that she "turns to jelly when he touches her," and later exclaims that she "couldn't live quietly in the country...with [her] own true love." (34, 62) Jake is forced to deal with Brett's decision about their relationship because she is determined to have it that way.
Beyond his sexual problem, Jake may also have a weakened ego from the war. World War I was fought in trenches, thus not many men had the chance to stand out and be heroes. Each of them was forced to fight as a group and share any glory that may be acquired. This led many men to question their purpose in the war and in the general overview of life. Thus, when fronted with the rejection of a true love, Jake was at loss. He questioned whether or not it was true and he gave into Brett's relational views even though he believed differently. Although he was coping with these mixed emotions, Brett still expected him to be an emotional confidante. She expected him to always be there, and yet
Ernest Hemmingway was an intellectual writer who used characters, setting, and action in the novel, The Sun Also Rises, to convey many themes. He is also known to be a writer about the World War I time period. Thus, World War I has affected each of the characters in the novel in one-way or another. The war serves to haunt many of the characters and is the source of great pain in the book. Two characters that are specifically affected by the war are Jake and Brett. The reader can gain a view of some of the detriment that occurred during the war by analyzing these two characters.
Even though the reader knows little detail about the characters' lives, it is for certain that each was affected by the war on some level. Jake, for instance, is known to be "sick." (34) Jake's lack of masculinity causes him difficulties in coping with his love for Brett. Brett is physically driven, and, even though she loves Jake, she knows she would never be satisfied with him. She claims that she "turns to jelly when he touches her," and later exclaims that she "couldn't live quietly in the country...with [her] own true love." (34, 62) Jake is forced to deal with Brett's decision about their relationship because she is determined to have it that way.
Beyond his sexual problem, Jake may also have a weakened ego from the war. World War I was fought in trenches, thus not many men had the chance to stand out and be heroes. Each of them was forced to fight as a group and share any glory that may be acquired. This led many men to question their purpose in the war and in the general overview of life. Thus, when fronted with the rejection of a true love, Jake was at loss. He questioned whether or not it was true and he gave into Brett's relational views even though he believed differently. Although he was coping with these mixed emotions, Brett still expected him to be an emotional confidante. She expected him to always be there, and yet