In more than one way, Jake Barnes from Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises seems like a portrayal of Hemingway himself. The style of narration from Jake's point of view as well as his speech is quite concise and matter-of-fact, as is Hemingway's general writing. Both Jake and Hemingway enjoyed fishing, and both were part of the ex-patriot community in Paris in the 1920s. Though Jake does not seem to engage in "overbearing masculinity" as Hemingway was said to have done, it seems that both had a complex regarding male roles and ideologies. Also, in the way Hemingway describes bullfights through Jake's eyes, we get the understanding that he is an aficionado of bullfighting much like his invented character. Hemingway's vivid yet pithy depictions of the matador's teasing yet expert movements regarding the bull really make the reader feel like they are in the bullring themselves.
Though, comparatively, the characters don't spend too much time in the bullrings, but rather in cafés getting drunk, a lot about the characters and their personas appear when watching a fight or discussing bulls or matadors before or after one. As I already said, Jake is an aficionado of bullfighting. Though he loses this form of respect from Montoya because he aided in the corruption of perhaps the best bullfighter alive (Romero), Jake's knowledge of bullfighting does not decrease, and we see even more explicit examples of his knowledge after losing this respect, when Jake picks up on the tricks Romero is using despite being hurt, and recognizes that one of the bulls has bad eyesight. He respects both the bull and the matador, and while he isn't disgusted by the blood and killing, he doesn't revel in it like someone disturbed might. Jake has a strong personality that is brought out in his passion for bullfighting. Bill is also very similar in this regard, and that might be what makes Bill and Jake such good friends for each other -- their strong yet individual personalities blend well together.
Brett is another character that doesn't seem very disturbed by the killings, but rather quite intrigued -- very unusual for a female, especially at the time. Her calmness regarding the slaughtering of the bulls, as well as the man she loves (Romero) in such a dangerous position reflects on her strong, partly-masculine personality. Though not explicitly stated, I felt that when Brett comments on how captivated she was by the bullfight, and how she could not look away, Jake loves her even more as he is such an aficionado of bullfighting, it just makes him happy that the girl he loves enjoys it too. Because Brett has so many qualities that Jake likes, it's only logical that Bill and Brett are on good terms as well. As she is one of the appreciative types of bullfighting, she fits in with Bill and Jake, and because Bill drinks and likes to have fun, he fits in with Brett and Jake in that aspect as well.
On the contrary, Cohn has difficulties bonding with any of the group. Yes, he had an affair with Brett, but Brett has affairs with almost anything male. Cohn is the only one in the group (including Mike) who turns green and feels sick during the bullfight. He is also the only one that doesn't drink. These two aspects of Cohn's persona estrange him from the group, and he does not fit in with them well. In the case of the bullfights, Brett seems more masculine than him as she cannot stop herself from looking away, while he does his very best not to throw up at the thought of it.
Through Hemingway's details of bullfighting, I got the sense of being in the ring myself with a crowd of chanting, cheering, jeering, drunk Spaniards excited for the slaying of the bull and the finesse of the matador. While depicting something he was clearly passionate about, Hemingway also allowed for character development, providing more insight into their relationships and personalities. I really enjoyed the bullfighting scenes, and the Spanish setting in general.
Though, comparatively, the characters don't spend too much time in the bullrings, but rather in cafés getting drunk, a lot about the characters and their personas appear when watching a fight or discussing bulls or matadors before or after one. As I already said, Jake is an aficionado of bullfighting. Though he loses this form of respect from Montoya because he aided in the corruption of perhaps the best bullfighter alive (Romero), Jake's knowledge of bullfighting does not decrease, and we see even more explicit examples of his knowledge after losing this respect, when Jake picks up on the tricks Romero is using despite being hurt, and recognizes that one of the bulls has bad eyesight. He respects both the bull and the matador, and while he isn't disgusted by the blood and killing, he doesn't revel in it like someone disturbed might. Jake has a strong personality that is brought out in his passion for bullfighting. Bill is also very similar in this regard, and that might be what makes Bill and Jake such good friends for each other -- their strong yet individual personalities blend well together.
Brett is another character that doesn't seem very disturbed by the killings, but rather quite intrigued -- very unusual for a female, especially at the time. Her calmness regarding the slaughtering of the bulls, as well as the man she loves (Romero) in such a dangerous position reflects on her strong, partly-masculine personality. Though not explicitly stated, I felt that when Brett comments on how captivated she was by the bullfight, and how she could not look away, Jake loves her even more as he is such an aficionado of bullfighting, it just makes him happy that the girl he loves enjoys it too. Because Brett has so many qualities that Jake likes, it's only logical that Bill and Brett are on good terms as well. As she is one of the appreciative types of bullfighting, she fits in with Bill and Jake, and because Bill drinks and likes to have fun, he fits in with Brett and Jake in that aspect as well.
On the contrary, Cohn has difficulties bonding with any of the group. Yes, he had an affair with Brett, but Brett has affairs with almost anything male. Cohn is the only one in the group (including Mike) who turns green and feels sick during the bullfight. He is also the only one that doesn't drink. These two aspects of Cohn's persona estrange him from the group, and he does not fit in with them well. In the case of the bullfights, Brett seems more masculine than him as she cannot stop herself from looking away, while he does his very best not to throw up at the thought of it.
Through Hemingway's details of bullfighting, I got the sense of being in the ring myself with a crowd of chanting, cheering, jeering, drunk Spaniards excited for the slaying of the bull and the finesse of the matador. While depicting something he was clearly passionate about, Hemingway also allowed for character development, providing more insight into their relationships and personalities. I really enjoyed the bullfighting scenes, and the Spanish setting in general.
I enjoy the bullfighting scenes as well, and it's not just because of all the interesting ways it brings out stuff among the main characters. There's something about the way Hemingway writes with knowledge and authority about the subject--I can see it as an artform through his prose. I like to be able to talk with knowledge and discrimination about stuff I'm interested in (books, music, food, art, whatever), and there's something infectious about the style of writing: Jake "teaches" the reader how to see along with teaching Brett, and we feel superior to those "Biarritz" dopes who can't tell a good matador when they see one. The funny thing is, of course, I'm pretty sure I like reading these passages more than I'd like actually being at a bullfight. (Not a big fan of blood, or of killing animals for sport, though the costumes are cool.) This probably makes me kind of a Cohn, in Hemingway's eyes. The kind of guy who gets everything from books.
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