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The Sun Also Rises Masculinity Analysis

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Masculinity is not only defined by mere facades but also by actions seized and disregarded. Ernest Hemingway’s novels usually depict a certain embodiment of Hemingway himself. His writing can be characterized as masculine; he doesn’t drown his sentences with flamboyant diction but rather simple and laconic language. Hemingway’s childhood consisted of the stereotypical boy activities: hunting, fishing, and causing havoc. His childhood was then followed by his participation in World War I—an event that he used as inspiration for the majority of his writing. In two of Hemingway’s novels, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises, the male protagonists differ completely regarding their masculinity. Hemingway’s rhetorical use of vivid imagery …show more content…

Barnes fights in World War I and survives; yet, he leaves the war with one major issue—the loss of what makes him a man. This catastrophic disfiguration causes inevitable issues such as the woman Barnes loves, Brett, not desiring to endure with him, even though she smothers him with affection. Had Barnes not suffered this immutable injury, an opportunity for sustained love was likely, as mentioned in an article by Philip Young, “[The emotional] Love is a possibility only for the two who cannot love [physically].” Since Barnes’ physical love is unrequited, he has to deal with the pain of seeing Brett with other men. Barnes never truly expresses his emotions or speaks of them; he lives in the moment and hardly looks back in the past—a characteristic possessed by the majority of the characters in this work. As opposed to Jordan, Barnes does not obtain all the attributes of masculinity. He lacks authority and is often taken advantage of by Brett when she leaves him, too frequently for another more capable man. Hemingway’s writing style creates a clear and straightforward understanding of each character while still stressing his points regarding the characters’ …show more content…

Rather, he is born into a family with a past of warfare: “You [Jordan] had read on and studied the art of war ever since you were a boy and your grandfather had started [educated] you on the American Civil War” (335). He immerses himself into the world of war with the help of his veteran of a grandfather. Jordan does not simply find war; war finds him. Not only is there a literal term of war in Jordan’s life, but also a more loosely defined term—his father had previously committed suicide while Jordan was a boy. This event may pose an explanation for Jordan’s abundance of masculinity; without a father figure in his life, Jordan has to become the male authority. Additionally, Jordan idolizes his grandfather due to his lack of a male role model; he sees the qualities in his grandfather and how he is respected because of his tributes to the American Civil War. Hemingway even describes Jordan’s grandfather as a “hell of a good soldier” (337). Jordan looks upon his grandfather highly and with much admiration. Although Jordan travels to Spain to fight for the side he believes should be victorious, the war has other ideas for him as Wendy Perkins asserts, “Initially, he is devoted to their cause; however, he soon becomes disillusioned about the reality of war.” Hemingway’s characterization of Jordan falsely identifies him as being a man capable of withstanding and persevering

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