The Sun Also Rises #3

The last remaining chapters of the book were where drama had found its home and nestled its way in. This allowed for a unique clear view into the minds of each of the characters. With Mike's meltdown,  Cohn's abuse and revenge, and Jake's utterly hopeless admiration for his true friend, Brett. 

At the start of the article, Confession, Charity, and Community in The Sun Also Rises by Doris A. Helbig, writes that "All of the major characters in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises move in and out of various stages of isolation,searching for acceptance and a sense of community." Immediately after reading this, a specific passage in chapter 16 came to mind. 

"We walked out across the wet grass. . . I spread the newspaper on the stone and Brett sat down. Don't feel bad, I said. I feel like hell, Brett said." 

Brett was distraught over what she had previously done to Cohn and now is confiding in Jake. As most men have experienced, including myself, it is always the worst thing when the woman you love attempts to speak of other men and doubly confusing when they ask you to pronounce your feelings. The mysteries of women are endless and it appears that Jake has found his way into one of these whirlpools, which leads straight to the bottom of disappointment. 

Jake admits his love for Brett and a large portion of that love is most likely friendship. In the beginning of chapter 14 Jake brings up his relationship to Brett. “Women made such swell friends. Awfully swell. In the first place, you had to be in love with a woman to have a basis of friendship." (page 119) These two sentences, particularly the latter gives insight into Jake's thoughts for Brett. Translated into more contextual terms, Jake has shown how he views Brett. She is a dear friend to him, however his friendship required love to be initiated. His love for her came first and he makes it clear by stating that it is love that is the basis for all that they have. Whether or not "I (Jake) had not been thinking about her side of it." (page 119)

As the book progressed it became more and more difficult to avoid the unmanning Jake faced. Two struggles also emerged, which were intertwined. The constant battle between Jake and Brett, whom have the most intimate of relationships, but also the boy's club. Jake's relationship to Brett has been explained, but there are also troubles between the men. While in Spain, the troubles blossomed, fertilized by Brett's careless nature. While Brett is being consoled by Jake, she mentions how she is unable to stop. This of course pertains to her new found love disease where the cure lies within the tight, shoe horn requiring pants that our young bull fighter wears. Mike's antisemitism flared, Cohn flexed his muscles, and Jake stooped to the level of friends. What is remarkable is the infrequent balance of the men's relationships created by Hemingway. The friendships between the men seem artificial. In the same way that Jake mentions a relationship between a woman and himself must start with love, a relationship between men usually crumbles once love has been added.