"The Sun also Rises": a review by Johann Quan

The novel, "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway is about a group of friends from the Lost Generation of World War I who are trying to recover from the mental and physical wounds the war has left them with. As the story progresses, each character's personality is revealed and their conflicts with each other demonstrate the inner conflicts of their generation.

Jake Barnes, the protagonist and narrator of the story is a World War I veteran who suffered an injury that has rendered him sexually unable. Jake, like his friends, wanders aimlessly in Paris, going from bar to bar, indulging himself in the only sensual pleasure he is capable of. As a narrator, Jake often describes and criticizes the purposeless life of his friends despite his own life being very similar to their's. Jake's insecurity of his physical imperfection and masculinity represents what many members of the Lost Generation also felt. Due to his impotence, Jake is unable to retain a relationship with his lover, Lady Brett Ashley, a very attractive woman who is idolized by many others characters. After a divorce with her husband, Brett constantly goes from relationship to relationship, unwilling to commit to Jake or any of the others. Her presence constantly causes quarrel among the men and her character symbolizes the dangers of liberated women. Brett's search for love mirrors the Lost Generation's search for prewar values and principles. Robert Cohn, one of Brett's many admirers, is Jewish and is also the only nonveteran in their group of friends. This, together with his incompetence and insecurity makes way for his friends to attack and insult Cohn for a weakness that they themselves are subject to. Though he is physically strong from being a boxer, he is emotionally and mentally weak. Cohn's character serves as a foil for the other characters because he represents the traditional prewar values of romance, though he is slowly corrupted by his association with Brett. In attempt to protect his romantic ideals of love, Cohn attacks Mike, Jake, and Romero, breaking  the rule of sportsmanship by fighting outside the arena.

The story begins with Jake's narration about Cohn and his unhappy marriage. Jake works as a journalist and Cohn as an author in Paris but the two are both discontent with the dullness of their lives. They drink excessively as they go from bar to bar. Jake them runs into Brett at a club and Cohn immediately falls for her despite her having a fiancé named Mike. Brett and Jake are lovers, but Brett chose not to stay in a relationship with Jake due to his impotence. Jake's medical situation is not explicitly stated until a conversation he has with a veteran named Bill. Later on, the group of friends decide to visit Pamplona for the bullfighting fiesta. There, they meet a young bullfighter prodigy named Romero who ends up becoming romantically involved with Brett. When Cohn receives news of this, he beats up Romero and later Mike and Jake due to an argument. In the end, Brett breaks up with Romero and Jake goes to pick her up.
I think this classic is a great novel for it's rich symbolism, powerful themes, and unique writing style. For instance, the bullfighter Belmont is a symbol of the Lost Generation. He was a popular and now legendary bullfighter during his time but when he attempts to come out of retirement, he finds himself lost and aimless in the his current time. Belmont is unable to live up to his former reputation and becomes very bitter. Similarly, Jake and his acquaintances don't fit into the current time and find themselves drifting from place to place without any purpose in mind. The same world and society that they served for in World War I has now abandoned them. Another way Hemingway conveys the themes with his simple, short sentences is through other characters. He uses Romero as a foil to contrast with Jake. Hemingway portrays Pedro Romero as genuine and spectacular. He is different from the other characters because he represents a system of values untainted by the war. He works closely with the bulls while other bullfighters only seem to be working closely. Romero’s passion differs greatly from the emptiness of Jake’s generation. Romero's dedication and devotion  to his work gives him a purpose in life that Jake and his friends lack. This novel definitely offers an interesting perspective on the way people live their lives and how one's mindset can affect everything they do.