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Sun Also Rises Themes

Decent Essays

In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, many themes arise throughout the story. Whether it be masculinity, alcoholism, detachment, or sexual desire, these themes all lead back to one main cause and that is World War 1. The stories protagonist are Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. Jakes Barnes is a veteran of the war, who goes on to becomes a writer in Paris when he was done serving the United States. Lady “Brett” Ashley otherwise known solely as Brett is one of the boys, from the time she spent caring for the wounded in war she develops great relationships with the soldiers and practically becomes one of them. Because Jake and Brett had spent so much time in the war, they both suffered from PTSD. They both dealt with the trauma in their …show more content…

During the war, Jake was left without the ability to reproduce. This affected Jake because one of the things he wanted most in the world was too be with Brett. Jakes lack of masculinity really affected him because he would become very jealous of other men who surrounded Brett. For example, in book 1 chapter 3 Jakes states that “I was very angry. Somehow they always made me angry. I know they are supposed to be amusing, and you should be tolerant, but I wanted to swing on one, any one, anything to shatter that superior, simpering composure.” Jakes, jealousy for the gay men is based off of the fact that they are capable of having sex and reproducing and they are choosing not to. This anger and hatred towards his disorder leads Jake to do as most the characters in this story do and that is to drink away their problems. …show more content…

Because Brett could never be with Jake she also found that having relations with other men both physically and emotionally could help her be at peace. An example of one of these events is when Jake and Brett are in Spain and Brett is currently with Cohn, and decides to run off one night with Romero a young up and coming bull fighter and proclaim her love for him. Although Brett embarks on all these relationships they never fall through for her because her feelings for Jake cannot be forgotten or put in the past. Because Jake cannot sleep with woman, he must find other ways to cope with his depression and trauma. Jake finds this comfort and release in fishing. Jake finds healing and nature and most importantly, there is no women accompanying him when fishing. Therefore, he is able to forget about his disorder and just focus on himself and the fish. When out fishing, there is no bar or café they can go running to for more alcohol. Jake finds peace while fishing because he is able to speak to his friends who accompany him such as Bill, and they can be true to themselves. While out fishing, Bill tells Jake how he feels about nature. He states “We will say, and I for one am proud to say- and I want to say with me, on your knees, brother. Let no man be ashamed to kneel here in the great out-of-doors.

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