Lit Analysis #1 - The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Plot
The novel starts out in Paris with the main character Jake Barnes going about his everyday life. He is an American journalist who spends most of his days writing, drinking and relaxing. In the exposition, there are many references to Jake’s time spent in the military during World War 1. Through many subtle hints we learn that Jake is sterile due to a war wound. During the exposition we are also introduced to Jake’s friend Cohn who expresses his desire to leave Paris and travel. The story picks up when Jake takes his date to a dance club and runs into Lady Brett Ashley, a women who we learn he has had a long history with. Brett and Jake talk and the club and kiss goodnight later. The introduction of Brett is the inciting incident of the story because she remains one of Jake’s primary concerns throughout. Jake, Cohn, and Bill, another one of Jake’s friends, plan to go to Spain for the bullfights with Brett and her fiancé Mike. Bill and Jake travel first and stop awhile to fish. Later on, Cohn and the couple show up. Brett expresses concern to Jake that the trip might be a little uncomfortable because she had messed around with Cohn a couple of weeks before. While in Spain, Mike harasses Cohn several and accuses him of following Brett around like a lost puppy. The group spends many days drinking and watching the bullfighters slay the bulls. While watching the bullfights, Brett falls for one of the fighters named Romero. After Cohn, had been pushed to his boiling points with harsh comments he attacks both Mike and Jake then goes on to find Brett. He then walks in on Brett and Romero and beats Romero almost into unconsciousness. The next day Romero is able to recover but Cohn immediately leaves Spain. Romero continues to successfully compete and at the end of the fiesta he and Brett run away together to Madrid. Later on Jake receives a telegram from Brett saying that she’s in trouble. Upon arrival Brett tells Jake she has split with Romero because he is so young and she doesn’t want to ruin his career. Brett then reveals she will be going back to Mike. They catch a cab and while driving both lament the fact that they aren’t dating.

Theme

The theme of The Sun Also Rises is one of disillusionment. None of the characters seem to have drive or ambition, they seem to be expressing signs of what was called the “lost generation” during that time period. All characters seem to lack purpose and are just wandering, or floating through life. The ambivalence and carelessness of their attitudes and actions is showcased many times throughout the novel. It is as though, they are trying to fill their lives with meaning but fail repeatedly.

Tone

The tone of this book would be detached, cynical and ultimately empty. Although the story is told in first person, it lacks a personal element. Feelings are often times drowned out by the din of partying or drunk with the seemingly endless stream of alcohol. The result is events being portrayed with little to no emotion although at times things get very heated and exciting. The relationship between theme in tone in this book is crucial because they play off each other. The disillusioned theme goes hand in hand with the detached, almost hopeless way the story is told.

Passages that exemplify the tone are:

“you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” - Jake Barnes

　
“Oh Jake," Brett said, "We could have had such a damned good time together."
Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly, pressing Brett against me.
Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?”

“I can't stand it to think my life is going so fast and I'm not really living it.”- Brett

“Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you've lived nearly half the time you have to live already?” - Cohn

“This is a hell of dull talk...How about some of that champagne?” -Brett

Literary Elements
Imagery: Detailed imagery is used in explaining how the bullfights work and what the colorful fiesta looked like.

"In the Basque country the land all looks very rich and green and the houses and villages look well-off and clean. Every village had a pelota court and on some of them kids were playing in the hot sun,"(Hemingway 97).

Euphemisms: Vague euphemisms are used in the beginning of the story to explain Jake’s war injury and why he cannot have sex with Brett( which is one of the reasons she does not want to settle down with him)

Simile: Various similes were used throughout the novel as well often times through dialogue but also in Jake’s thought process.

" He looked a great deal as his compatriot must have looked when he saw the promised land,"(Hemingway 29).

Hyperbole: Hyperboles, similar to similes were often time sprinkled throughout the characters dialogue. Brett was especially notorious for hyperboles because she was one of the most dramatic characters in the novel.

"It's enough to make a man join the Klan,"(Hemingway 93).

Metaphor: Because they were all writers, metaphors in the character’s everyday language was common.

“You're not a moron, You're only a case of arrested development,"(Hemingway 51).

　
Symbolism: I found symbolism in the bullfights the group attended. I felt that the frustration of the bulls symbolized the frustration of the characters. The bulls were looking for an escape, however they only ended up exhausting themselves running around the ring. Similarly Jake and the rest of his friends are looking for an escape from reality through distractions like drinking and vacations.

Allusion: Allusions to World War 1 can be found sprinkled throughout the novel especially by Jake since he served in his younger days.

"I got hurt in the war," I said.

"Oh, that dirty war."

We would probably have gone on and discussed the war and agreed that it was in reality a calamity for civilization, and perhaps would have been better avoided. I was bored enough. Just then from the other room someone called: "Barnes! I say Barnes! Jacob Barnes!"

Dialogue: The dialogue between characters is essential because it is our only way of seeing how the other characters besides Jake are thinking and feeling throughout the novel.

Indirect characterization: Indirect characterization is used a great deal throughout this novel. For example, we begin to see Brett as a very selfish, very careless woman although Jake never directly says these characteristics aloud.

Diction: The authors simple word choice and short, choppy sentence structure aid in creating a distant, detached tone for the work.