Literature Analysis #3: The Sun Also Rises

Plot:

The novel begins with Jake Barnes, an American journalist, going about his everyday life in Paris. In the beginning stages of the novel, we see many references to when Jake was in the military during World War 1.  Jake gives a background story of his friend, Robert Cohn, who is also a veteran. Following, Jake takes a date to the dance club where he sees Lady Brett Ashley. They met when she was treating him for an injury during the war, which left him sterile. Even though they both love each other, she will not commit to a relationship because of this. Brett leaves for Spain, thinking it will be better for the both of them. Jake and Bill, a friend, decide to leave for Spain and do some fishing, and then plan to meet Cohn on the way to Pamplona, where there is a fiesta. The three guys meet up with Brett and Mike and at the fiesta Brett falls “in love” with a guy named Romero and Mike keeps messing with Cohn and accuses him of following Brett around. Cohn reaches his breaking point and 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. Fortunately, Romero was able to continue to compete and when the fiesta ended, him and Brett went to Madrid. While in San Sebastian, Jake receives a telegram from Brett asking him to meet her in Madrid. She tells him that she is over with Romero and wants to return to Mike. In the taxi, they are both sad because they know they good have a good time together.

 

Theme:

Lost Generation: World War I challenged the idea of faith, making it hard for the characters to follow the traditional beliefs that gave life meaning. Jake, Brett and their friends are lost and wandering in a “meaningless world.” This is why they are constantly seen drinking, dancing and not really doing anything productive with their lives.

 

Tone:

The author’s tone is quite dark and subdued. The character’s prove this when they talk about how they continue to drink until they forget their problems. This shows what the trauma of the war did to their emotional and mental health.

Examples:

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

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

 

Literary Techniques:

1.       Irony: The tone is dark and gloomy yet the title of the novel is very optimistic; even though the sun sets, the sun also rises meaning that things will always get better.

2.       Symbolism: The bulls symbolize passion and energy.

3.       Diction: The first person narrative structure is typical but he has an “almost poetic” style that is intense and unique. The author uses short sentences and avoids adverbs and adjectives.

“You’re going to work today?”

He nodded his head. “They start now, at 10:30.” (pg.92)

4.       Imagery: Hemingway uses this to describe the fiesta.

“There were pigeons out in the square, and the houses were a yellow, sun-baked color.”

5.       Allusion: There are allusions throughout the novel referring to World War I.

"When did she marry Ashley?"
"During the war. Her own true love had just kicked off with the dysentery."
"You talk sort of bitter."
"Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was just trying to give you the facts." (pg. 46)

6.       Similes: " He looked a great deal as his compatriot must have looked when he saw the promised land,” (pg. 29)

7.       Indirect Characterization: Jake’s view of Cohn indirectly reveals aspects of Jake’s personality that he does not mention straight out.

8.       Dialogue: The dialogue is very brief; characters rarely speak more than two sentences at a time.

“You’re sure this thing has trout in it?” Bill asked

“It’s full of them.”

“I’m going to fish a fly. You got any McGintys?”

“There’s some in there.” (pg. 123)

9.       Verbal Irony: "Besides, what happened to me is supposed to be funny. I never think about it." (pg.19)

10.   Hyperbole: "It's enough to make a man join the Klan," (pg. 93)

 

Characterization:

1.       Direct:

·         “, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly to counteract the feeling of inferiority  and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton.” (pg.1)

·         “Brett was damned good-looking. She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed skirt, and her hair was brushed back like a boy's. She started all that. She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht...” (pg. 29)

                Indirect

·         “He was not in love yet but he realized that he was an attractive quantity to women.” (pg. 16) Cohn married the first woman who paid him any attention says something about his character. And his reaction towards her leaving him showed that he does not really see himself clearly or realistically.

·         While fishing, Bill asked Jakes if he ever loved Brett. Jake tries to avoid the questions but eventually gives in and admits he did. This shows that Jake is quiet and likes to keep things to himself.

2.       The author’s diction does not change when he describes the characters. He focuses on their relationships with others and their conversations to develop each character. When introducing new characters, he gives a brief two sentence introduction and then has them start conversing with one another.

3.       Jake Barnes, the main character in the novel is both a round and dynamic character. In the beginning of the novel he is fine just floating through life doing nothing productive after leaving the army. But as the novel progresses, with the introduction of Brett, the reader can see Jake changing emotionally and starting to care.

4.       Compared to other novels, I didn’t enjoy this book as much. I still liked it, but if I can’t connect and really get into a book, it is hard for me to get a lot out of it. By saying that, I don’t think I met a character but I did read one, they just didn’t grab my attention like other characters have in other novels.

“Would you like to go to South America, Jake?” he asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I never wanted to go. Too expensive. You can see all the South Americans you want in Paris anyway.”

I can relate to Jake in this, because he didn’t want change. He liked just floating around in his day to day life. It easier as humans to stay in the same routine rather than do something different.