Final Blog for "The Sun Also Rises"

After reading all of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, I cannot say that I enjoyed it. It seems like it ended exactly where it began and not much happened in the middle. Although, I suppose that is the purpose of the book. The lack of events or purpose throughout it shows what the lives were like for the Lost Generation. During the time period after World War I, people were looking for ways to make their lives better or complete. They all had different ways of dealing with their own personal situations like drinking or love affairs. Everyone was looking to get more out of life, but no one was sure how to find it. "A taxi came up the street, the waiter hanging out at the side. I tipped him and told the driver where to drive, and got in beside Brett" (page 251). This book shows the story as a man and his friends travel between Paris and Spain looking for something more in life. Personally, I did not like it, but that is just what I think...everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

The...End?

At last we have reached chapter nineteen...this is the end? Did anything actually happen in this book? I mean...all of the characters ended up in the exact same situation they started in. All of the characters ended up leaving each other and going different directions like they were when the book began. The only two characters who remain together are Jake and Brett which is exactly how we found them at the start of the book. After Brett had caught herself in a bad situation with another guy, she called for the help of Jake as she has always done. Therefore, Jake came to her rescue because he loves her. The part that surprised me a little was when Brett said "I'm going back to Mike. He's so damned nice and he's so awful. He's my sort of thing" (page 247). After all they have been through, she still wants to go back to Mike? In addition, she and Jake still love each other but cannot or will not be together...which is exactly where we began. "'Oh, Jake,' Brett said, 'we could have had such a damned good time together.' 'Yes,' I said. 'Isn't it pretty to think so?'" (page 251).

THE END...?

Antihero

Chapter eighteen...only one more to go! =) Since I believe Brett is our protagonist, I think that makes Jake our antihero. Jake is the narrator and also the central character throughout the book. However, for a main character he seems to lack the qualities of a hero. He does not show much courage throughout the book, and he often seems depressed. However, he acts a little heroic by being there for Brett when she needs him like on page 211, "Would you mind walking over with me? I want to talk to you, Jake." Jake always acts kind and helpful to her because he loves her, but he knows she cannot love him. Unfortunately, this heroic act often makes him only more weak and depressed than before. He is in love with a girl who will never love him back, and every time he helps her it only makes him more depressed.

Protagonist

After finally reaching chapter seventeen, I am not sure if this is right...but I think the protagonist in this story is Brett. She seems to be the person in the story who keeps the action moving. It is because of her that all of these unrelated characters are associated with one another. They all seem to be very different people who would not normally be "friends"...perhaps this is why they fight so often as is shown on page 195 "I swung at him and he ducked. I saw his face duck sideways in the light. He hit me and I sat down on the pavement. As I started to get on my feet he hit me twice." However, they are almost all related to Brett in some way or another. Jake is in love with Brett and has been for a long time, but they are unable/unwilling to be together. Cohn believes he is also in love with Brett because of their little affair in San Sebastian, and he is unable to move on and to accept that it meant nothing. Michael is...or rather was...going to marry Brett; however, actions and events that have occurred in the book make this wedding far less likely to ever happen. Other characters, such as Pedro Romero, are brought into this book because of their interest in Brett or Brett's interest in them. Almost all of the characters are in some way related to Brett. Therefore, I believe she is our protagonist.

...Conscience?

In chapter sixteen, another side of Brett is revealed. Up to this point, we had never really seen her actually think about her actions. In this chapter, she finally thinks about the things she has done and the way she feels about people. She regrets her trip to San Sebastian with Cohn. "He can't believe it didn't mean anything. Nobody else would behave as badly. Oh, I'm so sick of the whole thing" (page 185). Cohn is unwilling to forget about it and just leave everyone alone. In addition, Brett realizes that she no longer loves Michael and cannot be with him after the way he has acted. Brett tells Jake, "'Don't I know it, darling? Please don't make me feel any worse than I do.' Brett was nervous as I had never seen her before" (page 185). Jake has known Brett for a very long time, so saying he had never seen her this nervous before actually means something. Throughout the book, Brett has never reconsidered her actions and felt sorry about them until now. This chapter shows us another side of Brett...one that actually cares about those around her and those she hurts.

San Fermín

In chapter fifteen, the characters all go to the fiesta called San Fermín. I had heard about this celebration before and the running of the bulls; however, I thought I would look up some more information about it to see exactly what it was. It is a week long traditional celebration that begins on July 6th and continues until July 14th. It takes place in Pamplona, Spain every year. The celebration originated when Saint Fermin, Pamplona's first bishop, was said to have met his end by being dragged through the streets of Pamplona by bulls. This is the reason for the "running of the bulls" when hundreds of people run down the 825 meter street followed by six bulls and six steers like described on page 164. In addition, this is also the reason bullfighting became part of the tradition. If one would like to know more about this, they can look here or here. I also found out that Hemingway attended this celebration many times.

Epistrophe

Chapter fourteen contains an epistrophe. "Mike was a bad drunk. Brett was a good drunk. Bill was a good drunk. Cohn was never drunk" (page 152). This repeated line creates a comparison between all of the characters. It also shows their characters personalities. Mike is a bad drunk who drinks all the time, so he often gets into fights and trouble because of it. Brett is a good drunk. She drinks very often; however, she is more of a social drinker and handles it very well. Bill is also a good drunk who does not get into fights like Mike does. Mike often fights with Cohn. "I liked to see him hurt Cohn. I wished he would not do it, though, because afterward it made me disgusted at myself" (page 152).

Analogy

At the end of chapter thirteen, Jake makes an analogy between the pleasant meal and the dinners during the war. "It was like certain dinners I remembered from the war. There was much wine, an ignored tension, and a feeling of things coming that you could not prevent happening" (page 150). The fight between Cohn and Campbell had not solved their problems, so there was still much tension between the two. During the pleasant dinner, everyone ignored the problems and did not speak about it through the tense air. However, similar to that of the war, everyone had some wine and then "it seemed they were all such nice people" (page 150). This quote also foreshadows possible events that will happen later on in the book. My guess is that this is just the beginning of the tension and unpreventable disagreements between the "friends". In addition, this is one of the few times that Hemingway actually mentions the war in this book. I have not found many references to the war so far, but maybe as the book progresses we will hear more about it...or maybe not.

Irony and Pity

In chapter twelve, Bill tells Jake to "show irony and pity" (page 118). He starts randomly singing "The Bells are Ringing for Me and my Gal." I had no idea what this song was, so I decided to look it up. Here are the lyrics:

What a beautiful day
For a wedding in May!
See the people all stare
At the loveable pair.

She's a vision of joy,
He's the luckiest boy.
In his wedding array
Hear him smilingly say:

The bells are ringing for me and my gal,
The birds are singing for me and my gal.
Everybody's been knowing
To a wedding they're going
And for weeks they've been sewing,
Every Susie and Sal.
They're congregating for me and my gal,
The Parson's waiting for me and my gal.
And sometime
I'm goin' to build a little home for two,
For three or four or more,
In Love-land for me and my gal.

See the relatives there
Looking over the pair!
They can tell at a glance
It's a loving romance.

It's a wonderful sight
As the families unite.
Gee! It makes the boy proud
As he says to the crowd:

The bells are ringing for me and my gal,
The birds are singing for me and my gal.
Everybody's been knowing
To a wedding they're going
And for weeks they've been sewing,
Every Susie and Sal.
They're congregating for me and my gal,
The Parson's waiting for me and my gal.
And sometime
I'm goin' to build a little home for two,
For three or four or more,
In Love-land for me and my gal.

I still do not know why Bill started singing this? When Jake first woke him up to go fishing, Bill was in a bad mood and arguing. Now it is only a few minutes later, and he is randomly singing this song...which seems like a happy song. Why did Bill randomly change from arguing to being happy? And what was the significance of singing this song? I am sure there must be some kind of reasoning for this spontaneous song...but I certainly cannot think of a reason.

...any ideas?

A Recurring Action...But Not Really a Motif...

Chapter eleven was mainly focused on...it sounds odd but...drinking. Throughout this whole book, one thing that the characters do in almost every chapter is drink. In Paris, they drank as a way to...for lack of a better term...fit into society. They had a drink with friends or one at parties because that is the way the culture was in Paris. In this chapter, they travel to Spain and find a very different drinking culture. "When Bill offered the bottle the second time he took a long drink, and then the bottle went all over that part of the bus" (page 110). While on the bus, everyone passed around bottles and shared their drinks with everyone else. They all drink as a community and share wine-skins with one another. Drinking is mentioned many times in this book...so often that one might wonder if it is a motif. Although, I do not really think it is...I suppose it could be maybe?

Imagery and Juxtaposition

Chapter ten is full of imagery...a lot of imagery. Pages 97 through 100 are filled with a description of Spain. Everything is described in full detail from the car, to the driver, to the scenery all around. Hemingway creates a visual image of the surrounding village by describing the land, people, buildings, and animals. Every detail of their car ride to Pamplona is described.

"I have never seen a man in civil life as nervous as Robert Cohn - nor as eager. I was enjoying it. It was lousy to enjoy it, but I felt lousy. Cohn had a wonderful quality of bringing out the worst in anybody" (page 104). This is a juxtaposition for two reasons. First, enjoyment and feeling lousy are not usually associated with each other. If someone is having fun and enjoying themself, then they generally do not say they feel lousy. Second, bringing out the worst in anybody is normally not a wonderful quality. By this Jake means that whenever Cohn is around people, he makes the worst side of them show.

...Problems?

In chapter nine, Jake, Bill, and Cohn decide to take a trip to Spain. Then, Mike and Brett decide to go along too. We find out in this chapter that Brett's trip down to San Sebastian had been with Robert Cohn. This seems like it has the potential to create problems. "Don't you think it will be a bit rough on him [Cohn]?" (page 89). Even Brett suspects it will not go smoothly...I do not see this trip to Spain turning out well. Cohn still seems to be under the impression that Brett loves him even though we know she feels differently. Cohn does not seem like a very emotionally stable type person, so I do not know how he will handle this trip. Jake seems like he will be okay though. He has been fine with Brett being with other people and even marrying someone else, so I do not think it will be a problem for him. However, we still do not know a whole lot about Mike, so I am not sure what to expect from him on this trip. I suppose we will find out soon...

Anaphora

In chapter eight, we finally meet Michael Campbell. I am not really sure why Brett wants to marry him. She says herself "This drunkard is Mike Campbell. Mr. Campbell is an undischarged bankrupt" (page 85). This chapter makes Mike seem like he is always a careless drunk, and Brett knows it. At the end of this chapter there is an anaphora. Mike keeps repeating the words "You are a lovely piece" to Brett (page 85). This repetition emphasizes how Mike feels about Brett. He loves her and wants to be with her; however, he is not the only one that we know of who feels this way about Brett. We already know Jake loves her too...but why does she choose Mike if she seems to think he is just a drunkard?

A Book Split into Three Books

Chapter seven is the last chapter in book one. The book is split up into three different sections, or books. My guess is that the reason for these divisions is to separate it by exposition, rising action and climax, and resolution. Book one was all mainly exposition. It introduced many characters and told stories of their pasts. These stories gave us an idea of who their characters were and what their personalities were like. Therefore, we can foreshadow and create an idea of what we suspect will happen later in the book. Book one set up the story, so it is ready to move forward from here throughout the rest of the book.

Allusion

In chapter six, Frances says "I suppose that we that live by the sword shall perish by the sword" (page 57). I know that this is an allusion, but it could be a reference to two different things. I believe this is a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet. In addition, this is also said in Matthew 26:52 of the Bible. I am not sure which of those Hemingway intended to allude to? However, the meaning of the phrase is the same either way. The phrase is used to describe how one's eventual fate is based on how they live their life. It means that how we act and treat others will affect the rest of our lives. For example, the literal meaning of this phrase is that people who live by violence will, in the end, have that same sword turned on them and be killed through violence... ... ...poetic justice. I do not think that is a literary term?...oh well...it is still poetic justice. =)

Lady Ashley

Chapter five gives us more background information on Brett. "Her name's Lady Ashley. Brett's her own name...she's getting a divorce and she's going to marry Mike Campbell" (page 46). We find out that Brett was a V. A. D. in the hospital Jake was in during the war; therefore, they have known each other for a long time. This is the first time we have heard of Mike Campbell. All we know about him is that he lives in Scotland now and is planning to marry Brett. However, I think we will probably hear more about him as the book progresses. I have to admit...this news was a little surprising to me. The past few chapters had made it sound like Brett and Jake were in love, but now we learn that Brett is actually in love with a man named Mike Campbell and plans on marrying him. That whole thing still seems really complicated to me...but maybe it will make sense later on in the book.

Metaphor

In chapter four, we find out a little more about Brett and Jake. We learn that Brett has the title of Lady Ashley. We also find out that Jake had been wounded in the war, and he met Brett during his time in England. It seems that things between Jake and Brett are a little bit complicated. "Love you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me" (page 34). Brett says this metaphor to describe her feelings for Jake. They both love each other...but they also don't? or can't? It all sounds really complicated to me. This chapter makes it seem pretty clear that they both love each other, but for some reason they are both hesitant to do so. We know now that they had history together, but it must have ended badly or something.

Jake Something (?)

In chapter three, we finally learn the name of the story's narrator. Before this point he had just been referred to as Jake. We now know his name is not Jake Something; it is actually Jacob Barnes. This chapter shows us what a basic day was like for Jacob in Paris. It seems like he lives a fairly slow and average life during the post-World War I generation. He wanders around Paris and meets a few friends. One of the new characters introduced in this chapter is a woman named Brett. We do not find out much about her in this chapter, but I think we will later based on the last line of the chapter, "Oh, darling, I've been so miserable" (page 32). From that I would guess they have some sort of history together...I suppose we will find out later in the book if my guess is right or not.

Foreshadowing

In chapter two, the narrator mentions that Robert Cohn had been reading a book called The Purple Land. "The Purple Land is a very sinister book if read too late in life" (page 17). In addition, Cohn not only read this book, but he read and reread it. The fact that Cohn took this as a guide-book to what life holds leads me to believe that this is foreshadowing his character for the rest of the book. My guess is that throughout this book Cohn will not be satisfied with his life. He will probably spend his time trying to find more in life, but he already has his expectations set too high. After reading The Purple Land, he has an ideal life in mind; however, sadly I think he will be disappointed due to his high expectations. Another reason I suspect this will be his fate is because he spends this chapter complaining about his life. He then tries to convince Jake to travel with him to South America. He has a short mid-life crisis as he realizes he wants more out of life.

Time for the Next Book...(Exposition)

The second book is The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Interesting title...not quite sure what it means yet, but hopefully after reading this book I will figure that out.

After reading the first chapter, I think it is mostly exposition. The chapter introduces a few characters and tells a little bit of a backstory on them.

• Robert Cohn was a previous middleweight boxing champion; however, we learn that his only reason for fighting was "to counteract the feeling of inferiority and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton" (page 1).
• Spider Kelly was Cohn's boxing coach. I would guess that he is probably not going to be a major character judging by the brief mentioning of him in this chapter.
• Braddocks was Cohn's literary friend during his traveling in Europe.
• Frances was the lady who Cohn believed he was in love with. However, she seems to be the opposite of Cohn; Frances is forceful while Cohn is shy.
• Jake was Cohn's tennis friend during his traveling in Europe. He is also the narrator of the story.