Subject: Hemmingway-The Sun Also Rises In the novel The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, a reader is forced to decide weather the spite that the Jake has for Chon originates from Jake¹s racist background, or his deeply seeded jealousy of Chon for having a brief affair with Brett. Even though it is clear that Jake has racist views, the hatred he has for his former friend Chon Chon is strictly based on the jealousy he feels towards Chon for the weekend he spent with Brett. Jake goes in to great detail about Chon¹s early life. He speaks highly and admiringly of Chon, but in a condescending way. A reader get her first hint on page one that Jake has some racist feelings toward Chon.
With other women, like in the case of another character Georgette, Jake can be charming and funny, though he seems to get bored with them quickly. Brett's apparent reservations lead Jake to believe that there could never be a sexual rel... ... middle of paper ... ...mewhat caustic tone of the word "pretty" suggests he finally understands that Brett has no idea how much pain he has been though. The novel ends with Jake in the pits of disillusion. He breaks ties with all friends unceremoniously. He has unfulfilled sexual desires, and the realization that he has misplaced his love in Brett grips him to the core.
The novel, The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway is an example of how an entire generation redefined gender roles after being affected by the war. The Lost Generation of the 1920’s underwent a great significance of change that not only affected their behaviors and appearances but also how they perceived gender identity. Lady Brett Ashley and Jake Barnes are two of the many characters in the novel that experience shattered gender roles because of the post war era. The characters in the novel live a lifestyle in which drugs and alcohol are used to shadow emotions and ideals of romanticism. Brett’s lack of emotional connection to her various lovers oppose Jake’s true love for her which reveals role reversal in gender and the redefinition of masculinity and femininity.
A feminist woman will recognize her desires and refuse to depend on a man for their fulfillment. In like manner, Catherine Morland differs from her female peers in her tendencies to assume society designated male qualities. She acts with intelligence, self-confidence and ambition, a stark contrast to the docile, compliant females of her community. Although Catherine develops favorably from her boyish adolescence, she never achieves stunning beauty, but rath... ... middle of paper ... ... also as a female she’s defying her culture in being the one to select the partner. Although the general realizes later that his notions on the Morland family were false, Catherine still carries the satisfaction of singlehandedly realizing the desires that so blatantly oppose societal norms.
But they weren’t ever Jews” (Hemingway 148). Jake’s mockery of Cohen within the beginning of the novel echoes the same strings of jealousy present within Campbell’s hatred of Cohen. Due to Jake’s obsession with Brett, the novel becomes less about Jake and more about the perception of Brett that we are given. Within this context Brett is attempting to break out of a male dominated society through her feminity. Brett’s struggle within society is symbolized within the bullfighting that is central to the second half of the novel.
It is clear that Lady Brett Ashley is anything but a lady. She is kind and sweet but extremely vulnerable to the charm that various men in her life seem to smother her with. Brett is not happy with her life or her surroundings and seeks escape and refuge in the arms of these men. But her actions seem always to end up hurting her, and she runs back to Jake. Jake knows that he will never be able to have her for his own, and he accepts this as fact.
“Undressing, I looked at myself in the mirror of the big armoire beside the bed…. of all the ways to be wounded. I suppose it was funny,” (Hemingway 38). Jake is ashamed to have this wound and the wound creates a grand injury in his masculinity. His wound though his never revealed to the reader, so only Jakes thoughts, words, and actions led to the conclusio... ... middle of paper ... ... that he cannot satisfy Brett’s unquenchable needs, and Brett acknowledges this as well.
However, throughout the novel, Bernard goes through a remarkable change and takes on a role of an anti-hero as his ideas of freedom and individuality are stomped on by his sudden popularity. Thesis: Bernard Marx’s quest for individuality is doomed because of his criticism of World State’s ideals stems from his flaws, his egotism, and his hypocritical nature. Bernard is a misfit who is constantly mocked by his peers for his physical defects, which is the primary cause of his dislike of the World State’s society. He is an Alpha male, and yet his physical flaws and insecurities lead him to feel lonely and self-conscious. In a world of tall, handsome, and broad-shouldered Alphas, Bernard is short, slender, and ugly, and prejudice in favor of size is universal.
In the books The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, both Amir and Ralph go through many similar troubles, and change according to their ups and downs. When Amir is young, he goes through painful torments by his fathers disregard for him, and as he witnesses the rape of Hassan, he doesn’t bother to intervene, as it will gain the respect of his father. When Ralph hears about the death of Piggy, and the possibility of getting rescued, a change in the characters thought process begins. Amir as well as Ralph share common traits of loss of innocence, that changes them from an innocent immature character into a mature, and responsible character. Amir goes through many events that take place in the book that change him, and the way he is perceived within the book.
Unlike the traditional love triangle, which leaves two men fighting for one woman, Updike puts Ruth and Sally in competition for one man. John Updike provides the character assessment of Jerry to be one of a man with boyish hope for pure love with the “perfect” woman and his underlying wants and needs to love, as well as his helplessness to understand his own complicated life. In numerous pieces of John Updike’s literature when the male character finds the woman of their dreams, he will eventually begin to hate her. Jerry conquers Sally and overpowers her concerns for her small children, her marriage, as well as her devotion to family and her financial security. However, he is extremely unwilling to change, but in the same way unable to remain the same man.