The Sun Also Rises

by Ernest Hemingway

Reviewed by Joseph Zhang

Fall 2016

REVIEW: THE SUN ALSO RISES BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY

ISBN#: 7-5062-0438-X

THE STORY:

Jake, an expatriate American author living in Paris during the 1920s, is a World War I veteran, whose war wound has made him impotent. The beginning of the story starts off seeming like a romantic novel between Jake and Brett, who has had many affairs with other men, as the two often discuss how they will never have an ideal relationship since Jake is impotent. The character development often occurs in nightclubs during the evenings where the characters would often have deep, philosophical conversations of their relationships and life. In the middle of the story, Jake, Brett, and his friends or
acquaintances, Cohn, Campbell, and Gorton, travel to Pamplona, Spain. Jake, Gorton, and Cohn arranged to have a five day fishing trip south of Pamplona, but Cohn, recently having an affair with Brett, feels jealousy since Campbell is Brett’s fiancé, so he decides not to go. Instead, he waits for Campbell and Brett in Pamplona. The city of Pamplona is preparing for the upcoming fiesta, a celebration including the running of the bulls and bullfights. Jake and his friends drink heavily and quarrel and taunt each other. The tension between the characters intensify when Jake introduces the professional bullfighter, Romero, to Brett, and the two become attracted to each other. Violence erupts when Cohn, infuriated at Romero’s dominance of Brett’s attention, beats him up, injuring him badly. However, Romero continues to perform well in the bullfighting ring. As the fiesta draws to an end, the characters feel more and more possessive about Brett. (253)

MY OPINION:

Although the content of the story may seem quite simple, consisting fully of dialogue between characters, it is riddled with instances of symbolism and foreshadowing. To fully understand the text, I had to reread sections many times to catch the literary techniques Hemingway used. Additionally, it is difficult to piece out the plot using only the dialogue. Hemingway is famous for containing key information in his dialogue; thus, one must read very carefully to understand everything. If I had the chance to choose another book, I would not choose this novel again due to its difficulty to comprehend. I would recommend this book to high schoolers as it discusses many more mature themes, such as love, women, and masculinity. For instance, the relationship between Jake and Brett surrounds the theme of love since the Brett’s values of love are totally different than what Jake is able to give to her. Therefore, their relationship is not able thrive. Furthermore, this novel portrays the lack of masculinity in Jake compared to Romero. Jake, on one hand, is impotent and is angry at himself that he is similar to the inauthentic homosexuals shown in one scene of the book. Overall, I would rate this book 7 out of ten stars. (207)

Study Questions and Vocabulary:

FIRST SECTION

1. Why did Robert Cohn not leave his wife?

1a. He wants to leave his wife, but he felt it would be too cruel to do so. (4)

absinthe (15)

2. Why did Robert kick Jake under the table?

2a. Robert knows that Frances was determined to make Robert marry her, but Jake brings up the thought of Robert and himself going on vacation with another woman, causing Cohn to warn him with a kick. (6)

alimony (47)

3. How did Jake meet Brett?

3a. Brett worked for a hospital in World War I, and she treated Jake for his wound. (38)

concierge (53)

4. How did Frances and Cohn’s relationship last before they broke up?

4a. Cohn seems to be controlled by Brett, because Cohn is a weak man by nature. (1-47)

ostentation (62)

5. What is the Count’s philosophy of life?

5a. Because the Count has been through numerous wars and revolutions, he is able to enjoy life fully by following values including love. (60)

compatriots (76)

SECOND SECTION

1. Why are Bill and Jake irritated at Cohn?

1b. Bill and Jake are irritated at his air of superior knowledge. Also, Jake is jealous that Cohn had an affair with Brett. (97)

caribeeners (92)

2. How did being soldiers affect Bill and Jake’s relationship?

2b. In World War II, soldiers relied on each other for emotional support and provision of supplies, so Bill shows that he cares for Jake. (116)

aficiando (131)

3. How is Jake’s experience with the steers similar to him and his friends?

3b. The steers are trying to calm the bulls down, and they did not calm until the steer was gored. This is similar to Jake and his friends because Jake is a steer trying to calm his rowdy group down, and his group is symbolically sacrificing Cohn. (139)

pelota (91)

4. As Jake struggles with the question of morality, what philosophy does Jake construct?

4b. Jake decides that whatever is good in life must be paid for. (148)

desencajando (131)

5. What is Chapter XV’s setting?

5b. Chapter fifteen takes place in a fiesta in Pamplona on a Sunday in July. Jake and his friends celebrate by drinking and spectating bullfights.

klaxons (104)

THIRD SECTION

1. Why is Mike acting brutally and harshly to Cohn?

1c. Mike is anxious about Cohn’s relationship with Brett since she is interested in a Spanish boy named Romero. Mike takes out his insecurities on Cohn and insults him frequently.

proselyting (209)

2. How does the man’s death, being gored by bulls, similar to Cohn’s plight?

2c. Cohn allows Brett to hurt him emotionally and leave him to suffer. The crowds do not help the wounded man, which is parallel to Jake, Bill, and Mike not giving support to Cohn.

headlands (230)

3. Why does Brett go into the church?

3c.  She wants to pray for Romero’s safety during the upcoming bullfight.

armoire (234)

4. Why does the crowd jeer and insult the legendary bullfighter, Bellmonte?

4c. He used to be an exceptional bullfighter, and he comes out of retirement for the one specific bullfight during the fiesta. Since his performance did not compare to his legacy and the crowd’s expectation, the disappointed crowd made fun of him.

concierge (238)

5. Why does Brett break up with Romero?

5c. She believes her lifestyle would be a bad influence for Romero’s simple one.

picadors (169)