" settled in Paris, where he became part of the expatriate circle..."
" Hemingway became not only the voice of the "lost generation" but the preeminent writer of his time."
" Hemingway returned to the United States..."
(About the Author)
After reading the book and About the Author I realized a similarity. I think that Hemingway put himself in this book as the character Robert Cohn. Both people were Americans, moved to Paris, began writing, moved back to the United States for a book, and wanted to travel. They have to be the same person. So does this mean not many people accepted Hemingway? He wrote a bunch of books and was even awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He must have known what he was doing then. He died by suicide in 1961. If he took his own life, he must have not been living his life all the way up. I could also see Cohn taking his life after he beat up Romero. The reader doesn't know what happens after Cohn leaves, but I think that it would be a quite accurate inference.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The End
"Oh, Jake," Brett said, "we could have had such a damned god time together." Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me. "Yes" I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?" (pg. 251)
The end of the book was very confusing to me. Jake cares about Brett so much that she could me 1,000 miles away and I am sure a telegram with ten words on it asking him to come to her, and he leaves right away. She won't give Jake the time of day because he can't have sex with he, but whenever she needs him, he is there. I think Jake likes being needed. He likes to dream about what they could have.
This last quotation of the book didn't make much sense to me, so I went to sparknotes to see if that would help. It said there was a meaning behind the policeman stopping the cab. Brett needs to stop dreaming of what could've been because it will never happen. Why focus on the past when it can't be changed?
I think the one thing I actually understood about the ending was that Jake is torn and internally sad because he really did love her once, but for reasons he had no control over, she wouldn't be with him.
The end of the book was very confusing to me. Jake cares about Brett so much that she could me 1,000 miles away and I am sure a telegram with ten words on it asking him to come to her, and he leaves right away. She won't give Jake the time of day because he can't have sex with he, but whenever she needs him, he is there. I think Jake likes being needed. He likes to dream about what they could have.
This last quotation of the book didn't make much sense to me, so I went to sparknotes to see if that would help. It said there was a meaning behind the policeman stopping the cab. Brett needs to stop dreaming of what could've been because it will never happen. Why focus on the past when it can't be changed?
I think the one thing I actually understood about the ending was that Jake is torn and internally sad because he really did love her once, but for reasons he had no control over, she wouldn't be with him.
Through Jake's Eyes
" At noon we were all at the cafe. It was crowded. We were eating shrimps and drinking beer. The town was crowded." (pg.209)
This whole book is from a first person point of view, just like "The Things They Carried." Jake is the one who is telling this story. The reader sees everything the way Jake does. I was thinking what the book would be like if Brett was telling the story. What does she truly think about life, herself, and all the men she had relationships with? I would love to read a book from her point of view, even though I am not very fond of her. Maybe even a book from Cohn's point of view. Did he realize that the people didn't want him around and almost everyone shunned him quietly if not publicly.
One reason why I really enjoyed the Twilight series is because of the change of point of views throughout the book. I liked being able to get inside of each characters head at some point and be able to see what they are truly thinking and feeling.
This whole book is from a first person point of view, just like "The Things They Carried." Jake is the one who is telling this story. The reader sees everything the way Jake does. I was thinking what the book would be like if Brett was telling the story. What does she truly think about life, herself, and all the men she had relationships with? I would love to read a book from her point of view, even though I am not very fond of her. Maybe even a book from Cohn's point of view. Did he realize that the people didn't want him around and almost everyone shunned him quietly if not publicly.
One reason why I really enjoyed the Twilight series is because of the change of point of views throughout the book. I liked being able to get inside of each characters head at some point and be able to see what they are truly thinking and feeling.
Twisted
"Why he went in and found Brett and the bull-fighter chap in the bull-fighter's room, and then he massacred the poor, bloody bull-fighter."
-Mike (pg.205)
This whole situation is very twisted. If Mike is the one who is supposed to be marrying Brett, why is Cohn the one who is getting so upset over Brett having another relationship with a teenage boy. Mike doesn't seem like he is going to be a good husband. Is Mike just used to it now? Why would he settle for her if this is what their relationship is going to be like? I don't understand why it doesn't bother him.
Plus, going back to one of my earlier blogs, is Romero truly living his life to the fullest? I don't know how his life is any different than anyone else's. I don't know about anyone else, but to live my life to the fullest, I don't want to have to get beaten up.
-Mike (pg.205)
This whole situation is very twisted. If Mike is the one who is supposed to be marrying Brett, why is Cohn the one who is getting so upset over Brett having another relationship with a teenage boy. Mike doesn't seem like he is going to be a good husband. Is Mike just used to it now? Why would he settle for her if this is what their relationship is going to be like? I don't understand why it doesn't bother him.
Plus, going back to one of my earlier blogs, is Romero truly living his life to the fullest? I don't know how his life is any different than anyone else's. I don't know about anyone else, but to live my life to the fullest, I don't want to have to get beaten up.
Seriously Brett?
"I'm a goner. I'm mad about the Romero boy. I'm in love with him. I think." - Brett (pg. 187)
Here we go again. I just don't think Brett is ever satisfied with any man she is with. Now she is turning to a 19 year old boy. Seriously? I just don't think she could be "in love" with so many guys in her lifetime. I wonder if Brett would've been like this if he first love in war didn't die of dysentery. Who knows?
Anyways, I think that in this book Brett could be described as a static character. Her personality and morals definitely do not change as one moves through the book. She is such a lost woman. Also on page 187 she says to Jake, "I've got to do something. I've got to do something I really want to do. I've lost my self-respect." This made me realize that her situation is actually very sad. One could say she is almost addicted and once she sees something she wants, she has to have it.
Here we go again. I just don't think Brett is ever satisfied with any man she is with. Now she is turning to a 19 year old boy. Seriously? I just don't think she could be "in love" with so many guys in her lifetime. I wonder if Brett would've been like this if he first love in war didn't die of dysentery. Who knows?
Anyways, I think that in this book Brett could be described as a static character. Her personality and morals definitely do not change as one moves through the book. She is such a lost woman. Also on page 187 she says to Jake, "I've got to do something. I've got to do something I really want to do. I've lost my self-respect." This made me realize that her situation is actually very sad. One could say she is almost addicted and once she sees something she wants, she has to have it.
America gets the Cold Shoulder
" Do you know the American ambassador?" - Montoya
" Everybody knows the American ambassador." - Jake
"I've just had a message from them at the Grand Hotel that they want Pedro Romero and Marcial Lalanda to come over for coffee to-night after dinner." - Montoya
"Don't give Romero the message," I said. - Jake
"You think so?" - Montoya
"Absolutely." - Jake (pg. 175)
Here Jake, who is an American himself, tells Montoya to keep this message given to him by the American ambassador. Jake just thinks that foreigners will get in the way of Romero's career. If Hemingway just wanted to emphasize that any "foreigners" would corrupt Romero, he could've picked any country. He chose America. Ernest was raised in America, so I am not sure why he used this example. Hemingway just practically threw his home country under a bus.
Hemingway must have not really enjoyed his days in America or maybe he was just trying to make a point. I think that even today America is looked down upon. It's the land of the free where people can do whatever they want whenever they want. This all sounds wonderful, but I truly think that our country is going downhill. People have begun to put more emphasis on material items and money than what is really important in life. The whole "family aspect" is being lost. When people acquire more money, families seem to get spread apart. Even though this part of the book makes America look bad, I probably would have told Montoya the same thing.
" Everybody knows the American ambassador." - Jake
"I've just had a message from them at the Grand Hotel that they want Pedro Romero and Marcial Lalanda to come over for coffee to-night after dinner." - Montoya
"Don't give Romero the message," I said. - Jake
"You think so?" - Montoya
"Absolutely." - Jake (pg. 175)
Here Jake, who is an American himself, tells Montoya to keep this message given to him by the American ambassador. Jake just thinks that foreigners will get in the way of Romero's career. If Hemingway just wanted to emphasize that any "foreigners" would corrupt Romero, he could've picked any country. He chose America. Ernest was raised in America, so I am not sure why he used this example. Hemingway just practically threw his home country under a bus.
Hemingway must have not really enjoyed his days in America or maybe he was just trying to make a point. I think that even today America is looked down upon. It's the land of the free where people can do whatever they want whenever they want. This all sounds wonderful, but I truly think that our country is going downhill. People have begun to put more emphasis on material items and money than what is really important in life. The whole "family aspect" is being lost. When people acquire more money, families seem to get spread apart. Even though this part of the book makes America look bad, I probably would have told Montoya the same thing.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
"Hurray for Wine!"
" I want a leather wine-bottle," Bill said.
"There's a place down the street," I said. "I'll go get a couple." (pg.159)
Usually I find it hard to find motifs in literary works, but I believe this alcohol aspect of the book jumps out at everyone. I feel like alomst everything has to do with drinking or being "tight." I was convinced for awhile that I shouldn't even believe half of the stuff in the book because Jake was probably drunk while narrating it. I am not sure why Ernest put such an emphasis on alcohol. I am guessing that he wanted to make this lost generation look even more arrogant or maybe Hemingway liked drinking all the time too. One thing I did notice is that I feel like the characters drank all the time to erase their problems. If they were drunk, they wouldn't remember how they were practically bankrupt.
Life
" Enjoying living was learning to get your money's worth and knowing when you had it." (pg. 152)
In this book, my favorite chapters are the short ones where it is just Jake thinking quietly to himself. He comes up with some great philosophies. Maybe it is just because I love quotes, but I think he makes some very valid points in these chapters. I think here he is saying that one can fully enjoy life when they learn not to settle for less but also not to keep pursuing something when they are as far as they need to be. I have always been a believer in the theory of "a happy medium." Here, I believe Jake is trying to drive that point home.
Finding something's happy medium is all about balance. I think most people would agree that balance is something that everyone strives to find in their life. It is apparent that Hemingway didn't think these people had balance whatsoever.
Anyways, I do believe that this quote from Jake can be considered timeless and universal. People all over the world from every century have been trying to master a way to reach a happy medium in life but not push past it. After all, aren't we all just trying to enjoy life?
Following Like a Steer
" Tell me, Robert. Why do you follow Brett around like a poor bloody steer? Don't you know you're not wanted?" - Mike (pg. 146)
Here we see the trite saying, "a drunk man speaks a sober mind" being lived out. Like almost every other moment in the book, everyone is drinking and it becomes obvious that Mike has had a little too much. Brett is being fought over once more. Here, Mike uses a simile and compares Cohn's life to that of a steer.
The steers are the animals that are supposed to be in the area to distract the bulls and keep them from going at eachother. I'm not exactly sure what kind of animal it is. I thinkit is either a small cow or a horse, but I don't really know. Usually the steer gets gored by the bull's horn. The fact that Mike compares Cohn to a steer tells the reader that Cohn's "friends" don't really see him as a very important person. The see him as more of someone who is there because he has to be. Also, while Mike is spitting out dirt on Cohn left and right, nobody stands up for Robert. There was actually a point in the book during this argument that said "Bill laughed." This evidence also adds onto my earlier blog and further shows how Cohn is the most shunned man in the book.
Here we see the trite saying, "a drunk man speaks a sober mind" being lived out. Like almost every other moment in the book, everyone is drinking and it becomes obvious that Mike has had a little too much. Brett is being fought over once more. Here, Mike uses a simile and compares Cohn's life to that of a steer.
The steers are the animals that are supposed to be in the area to distract the bulls and keep them from going at eachother. I'm not exactly sure what kind of animal it is. I thinkit is either a small cow or a horse, but I don't really know. Usually the steer gets gored by the bull's horn. The fact that Mike compares Cohn to a steer tells the reader that Cohn's "friends" don't really see him as a very important person. The see him as more of someone who is there because he has to be. Also, while Mike is spitting out dirt on Cohn left and right, nobody stands up for Robert. There was actually a point in the book during this argument that said "Bill laughed." This evidence also adds onto my earlier blog and further shows how Cohn is the most shunned man in the book.
Getting Hooked
"I'm going to fish a fly. You got any McGintys?" -Bill
"There's some in there." - Jake
You going to fish bait?" - Bill
"Yeah, I'm going to fish the dam here." - Jake
(fishing)
"Let's see them." - Bill
"They're packed." - Jake
"How big are they really?" - Bill
"They're all about the size of our smallest." - Jake (pg. 123/125)
This fishing excursion isn't really one of the main events that happens in this book, but I think there is an underlining meaning to it. Jake works hard to find his own worms to use as bait, while Bill just chooses to go fly fishing and use artificial bait. After fishing for awhile Bill is the one who catches the biggest trout. I think Hemingway is trying to prove a point here. The people of this lost generation are getting hooked on fake ideals, values, and thoughts. The majority of them are stupid enough to visually see a hook (bad ideal) but grab onto it anyways. They are hungering for a way to live their life to the fullest, but they are getting distracted by the fake and drunk way of life.
I find this same trend occurring in society today. People who are given their bait (Bill) without any effort whatsoever somehow always seem to prosper and get the good end of the deal. Then, the people like Jake who work for their bait always seem to catch the smaller fish. This idea is twisted. It should be the other way around, but that is just how the world we live in today works I guess.
"There's some in there." - Jake
You going to fish bait?" - Bill
"Yeah, I'm going to fish the dam here." - Jake
(fishing)
"Let's see them." - Bill
"They're packed." - Jake
"How big are they really?" - Bill
"They're all about the size of our smallest." - Jake (pg. 123/125)
This fishing excursion isn't really one of the main events that happens in this book, but I think there is an underlining meaning to it. Jake works hard to find his own worms to use as bait, while Bill just chooses to go fly fishing and use artificial bait. After fishing for awhile Bill is the one who catches the biggest trout. I think Hemingway is trying to prove a point here. The people of this lost generation are getting hooked on fake ideals, values, and thoughts. The majority of them are stupid enough to visually see a hook (bad ideal) but grab onto it anyways. They are hungering for a way to live their life to the fullest, but they are getting distracted by the fake and drunk way of life.
I find this same trend occurring in society today. People who are given their bait (Bill) without any effort whatsoever somehow always seem to prosper and get the good end of the deal. Then, the people like Jake who work for their bait always seem to catch the smaller fish. This idea is twisted. It should be the other way around, but that is just how the world we live in today works I guess.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Mr. Cohn
"Cohn had a wonderful quality of bringing out the worst in anybody." (pg. 104)
I feel like Robert Cohn is the most shunned character in the book. If it weren't for her looks and deeds she did for men, Lady Brett would be. She technically should be. Frances loves Robert, but she has learned to hate him more and more as he strays away from her. Mike Campbell and Bill Gorton never have anything good to say about him. Jake also has a hatred for him and deliberately tries to harass him. On page 103 Jake even says, "I was enjoying Cohn's nervousness." This paradox makes people wonder how bringing out the worst in people could be a wonderful quality.
This also did make me wonder if this quotation was more of a sarcastic remark. Jake is the one who says it after he torments Cohn, so I do believe it could seen as sarcastic or maybe even antithetic.
I feel like Robert Cohn is the most shunned character in the book. If it weren't for her looks and deeds she did for men, Lady Brett would be. She technically should be. Frances loves Robert, but she has learned to hate him more and more as he strays away from her. Mike Campbell and Bill Gorton never have anything good to say about him. Jake also has a hatred for him and deliberately tries to harass him. On page 103 Jake even says, "I was enjoying Cohn's nervousness." This paradox makes people wonder how bringing out the worst in people could be a wonderful quality.
This also did make me wonder if this quotation was more of a sarcastic remark. Jake is the one who says it after he torments Cohn, so I do believe it could seen as sarcastic or maybe even antithetic.
Catholic Faith
" ... I was kneeling with my forehead on the wood in front of me, and was thinking of myself as praying, I was a little ashamed, and regretted that I was such a rotten Catholic, but realized there was nothing I could do about it, at least for a while, and maybe never, but that anyway it was a grand religion..." (pg. 103)
This excerpt interested me naturally because I am a part of the Catholic faith. I have had many times in my life when I have felt so far away from my faith and like Jake, I have been ashamed. Since I am part of the Catholic faith, I know that it is a very forgiving faith. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was created specifically for forgiving sins. This is why I am a little confused and troubled then it comes to this quotation by Jake. He says there is nothing he can do about being a rotten Catholic. Why? I don't understand this, because there is so much one can do to become stronger in their faith. I just want to know if I have missed something. Maybe something happened in his childhood. This is just one part of chapter ten I did not understand.
I know Hemingway wanted to emphasize this thought of Jake trying to pray because the paragraph where he is praying is almost all one sentence. I can't tell if he is trying to mock the Catholic faith or something, but I know something is up here.
Backtracking a Little =]
"I did not see Brett again until she came back from San Sebastian. ... Nor did I see Robert Cohn again. I heard Frances had left for England and I had a note from Cohn saying he was going out in the country for a couple of weeks, he did not know where ... " (pg. 75)
I wanted to go back a couple of pages and bring up another literary device that Hemingway used. In this situation, he used dramatic irony. I would think that Jake would've seen what was going on and not thought that Cohn and Lady Brett leaving around the same time was just a coincidence. I thought Jake knew Cohn liked Brett a lot? I just don't understand why he didn't figure it out. I guess Ernest just wanted the reader to be more aware of the situation. I definitely thought something was fishy at this point, but Jake doesn't find out about this relationship until page 89 when Brett tells him.
Since Jake didn't even figure this situation out, I think Hemingway put this inhere to show how sneeky and crazy things could be at this time. Two of a man's closest friends could be having a relationship without the man ever realizing it.
I wanted to go back a couple of pages and bring up another literary device that Hemingway used. In this situation, he used dramatic irony. I would think that Jake would've seen what was going on and not thought that Cohn and Lady Brett leaving around the same time was just a coincidence. I thought Jake knew Cohn liked Brett a lot? I just don't understand why he didn't figure it out. I guess Ernest just wanted the reader to be more aware of the situation. I definitely thought something was fishy at this point, but Jake doesn't find out about this relationship until page 89 when Brett tells him.
Since Jake didn't even figure this situation out, I think Hemingway put this inhere to show how sneeky and crazy things could be at this time. Two of a man's closest friends could be having a relationship without the man ever realizing it.
The City is Alive
" Down the river was Notre Dame squatting against the night sky." (pg. 83)
Growing up in a Catholic school system in Indianapolis, Indiana has made it almost impossible for my eyes and ears to ignore or skip over the words "Notre Dame." When I spotted the words on page 83, I also spotted an example of personification that went along with them. In France, the Notre Dame de Paris is a cathedral. Jake here describes this building as "squatting." Hemingway gave this human characteristic to the cathedral to try and show the reader that this city had a way of almost appearing alive. Ernest wanted to emphasize how graceful and beautiful this city was at night time. I believe he used the Notre Dame because it is a well known building. After he mentions Notre Dame, he further explains how the city is alive by bringing up couples walking and a river flowing.
Tromper? Tight? Chaps?
"Couldn't we just live together, Brett? Couldn't we just live together?" - Jake
" I don't think so, I'd just tromper you with everybody. You couldn't stand it" - Brett (pg. 62)
With small exchange between Jake and Lady Brett I want to bring up two points. First of all, Lady Brett's first impression held to be true. Let us just say that she is a woman with needs and she isn't afraid to show it. Jake truly loves her (like many other men) and I do believe she has feelings for him (like she also does for many other men), but she cannot be with him because he is incapable of meeting her needs. I guess Brett never understood the saying, "What is on the inside counts most." Actually, she probably just chose to let it go in one ear and out the other.
The other point I wanted to bring up is that in the book, Hemingway does a nice job of including dialect. The reader might not know what the word means, but after recognizing it through out the book and using comtext clues, one can infer what it means. By using this dialect, he completes the characters French qualities. It also created an accent almost for the charaters in my head.
Tight - being drunk
Chaps - gentlemen
Flat - house, where one lives
Tromper - french for "to commit adultery"
" I don't think so, I'd just tromper you with everybody. You couldn't stand it" - Brett (pg. 62)
With small exchange between Jake and Lady Brett I want to bring up two points. First of all, Lady Brett's first impression held to be true. Let us just say that she is a woman with needs and she isn't afraid to show it. Jake truly loves her (like many other men) and I do believe she has feelings for him (like she also does for many other men), but she cannot be with him because he is incapable of meeting her needs. I guess Brett never understood the saying, "What is on the inside counts most." Actually, she probably just chose to let it go in one ear and out the other.
The other point I wanted to bring up is that in the book, Hemingway does a nice job of including dialect. The reader might not know what the word means, but after recognizing it through out the book and using comtext clues, one can infer what it means. By using this dialect, he completes the characters French qualities. It also created an accent almost for the charaters in my head.
Tight - being drunk
Chaps - gentlemen
Flat - house, where one lives
Tromper - french for "to commit adultery"
Frances
" " Listen to him. I'm going to England. I'm going to visit friends. Ever visit friends that didn't want you? Oh, they'll have to take me, all right. How do you do, my dear? Such a long time since we've seen you. And how is your dear mother? ... " "- Frances (pg. 56)
This would be a prime example of a complete freak out from a woman. Personally, I can't believe she did this in public. I have no idea what I would've done it I was Cohn. It is obvious that she is fed up with this situation, but I would've been too. I have no idea why she was staying with Cohn when it was obvious that their relationship had seen its' day.
The quote above isn't even half of the rant she went on. When I was reading this part, I pictured her speaking as if she was in the show Gilmore Girls. On that show they speak so quick that one has to be paying complete attention to catch everything that is being said. Frances was spitting out facts, questions, and some harsh thoughts at 100 mph. It was obvious that she didn't want them to answer her questions, she wanted to make Cohn realize that she knew what was going on and she wanted him to feel just a portion of all the pain she felt.
The rant continues...
"Well, I suppose that we that live by the sword shall perish by the sword. Isn't that literary, though? You want to remember that for your next book, Robert. You know Robert is going to get material for a new book. Aren't you, Robert? That's why he's leaving me." - Frances (pg. 57)
This would be a prime example of a complete freak out from a woman. Personally, I can't believe she did this in public. I have no idea what I would've done it I was Cohn. It is obvious that she is fed up with this situation, but I would've been too. I have no idea why she was staying with Cohn when it was obvious that their relationship had seen its' day.
The quote above isn't even half of the rant she went on. When I was reading this part, I pictured her speaking as if she was in the show Gilmore Girls. On that show they speak so quick that one has to be paying complete attention to catch everything that is being said. Frances was spitting out facts, questions, and some harsh thoughts at 100 mph. It was obvious that she didn't want them to answer her questions, she wanted to make Cohn realize that she knew what was going on and she wanted him to feel just a portion of all the pain she felt.
The rant continues...
"Well, I suppose that we that live by the sword shall perish by the sword. Isn't that literary, though? You want to remember that for your next book, Robert. You know Robert is going to get material for a new book. Aren't you, Robert? That's why he's leaving me." - Frances (pg. 57)
Here we continue with Frances' rant to Cohn. I wanted to include this excerpt because here Frances completely disses Robert's writing by suggesting he use a trite expression or cliche in his next work. By saying this, she implies that he can't come up with anything good on his own, so he has to resort to ideas that have been around for ages.
Lady Brett ...
" " Hello, Brett," I said. " Why aren't you tight?" " (pg. 29)
This is the first time the reader has the pleasure of meeting such a lovely woman, Lady Brett Ashley. The name Brett kind of threw me off at first, because it isn't a very common name. The only Brett I know now is a guy, but when Lady Brett Ashley came into the story, all I could compare her to was the woman Brett Sommers of off the old game show match game. She is the only other Brett I know of that is a woman, so from this point on, through out the whole book I pictured Brett Sommers as Lady Brett Ashley. This is very weird, I know.
Anyways, I am someone who believes in the whole first impression theory. One can never make a first impression twice. The first impression Hemingway gives of Lady Brett is very accurate. Ernest prepares the reader quite well for what is to come. After an exchange of hellos, the first thing Jake says to Lady Brett is "Why aren't you drunk?" It wasn't the usual, " I haven't seen you in forever, how have you been?" This explains a lot about her character and what the reader is to expect from her in the coming chapters.
This is the first time the reader has the pleasure of meeting such a lovely woman, Lady Brett Ashley. The name Brett kind of threw me off at first, because it isn't a very common name. The only Brett I know now is a guy, but when Lady Brett Ashley came into the story, all I could compare her to was the woman Brett Sommers of off the old game show match game. She is the only other Brett I know of that is a woman, so from this point on, through out the whole book I pictured Brett Sommers as Lady Brett Ashley. This is very weird, I know.
Anyways, I am someone who believes in the whole first impression theory. One can never make a first impression twice. The first impression Hemingway gives of Lady Brett is very accurate. Ernest prepares the reader quite well for what is to come. After an exchange of hellos, the first thing Jake says to Lady Brett is "Why aren't you drunk?" It wasn't the usual, " I haven't seen you in forever, how have you been?" This explains a lot about her character and what the reader is to expect from her in the coming chapters.
The First of Many
" It was a warm spring night and I sat at a table on the terrace of the Napolitain after Robert had gone, watching it get dark and the electric signs come on, and the red and green stop-and-go traffic signal, and the crowd going by, and the horse-cabs clippety-clopping along the edge of the solid taxi traffic ... " (pg. 22)
At the beginning of the book, I thought this was a very relaxing and precious scene. A guy sitting at a table, relaxing, having a drink, and enjoying his time observing the night life. At this point I was jealous of this man's life. Who wouldn't want to be able to sit back and do this every night? Hemingway describes this scene quite well. Using great description and onomatopoeia he made me feel like I was right there on the terrace in the seat next to Jake.
I can't speak for people in other countries, but I think many people in America would love to do this every night. The country that we live in today has way too many stressful situations going on. I have witnessed the worries that my parents go through. If it isn't cars, it is money. I think that some people in the world today may think that this "lost generation" had it made.
Live Life to the Fullest
" Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters." (pg. 18)
How does one live their life all the way up? I think that is something everyone wants to know how to do. For centuries, people have been creating "Bucket Lists" to try to attempt to conquer everything they want to before their time on earth is up. Regret is one feeling that nobody wants to have to hold in their heart, so everyone is always encouraged to try something new and "Live life to the fullest!" Everyone wants to accomplish this trite saying, but is it possible for someone to actually do it?
During this lost generation, I am sure nobody really felt they were living their life to its potential. Anyone who has read this book would probably agree with this. How can one live their life to the fullest when all they do is drink alcoholic beverages, eat, and find company with friends. Even if they were living their life all the way up, there is no possible way they would ever remember it.
The Sun Also Rises
"You are all a lost generation." - Gertrude Stein in conversation
"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever ... The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to the place where he arose..." - Ecclesiastes
Whenever I read books, I always like to recognize how the titles tie into the story. After reading this book, I was quite stumped. The only place I could find anything remotely related to the sun was in the epigraph at the beginning of this literary work. Personally, I didn't find much of a point to this book, but the epigraph Hemingway chose explains some of his reasoning for writing this work.
His first quote from Gertrude Stein explains an obvious view of his. If he didn't agree with this quotation, he wouldn't have found it necessary to place it before his writing. Hemingway clearly believed that this generation of drunk cafe hoppers was lost. In my opinion, through out the book he makes the characters look like they all have no lives. Hemingway wrote this book not to put this generation and their way of life on a pedestal, but to actually look down upon them.
His second quotation presents the idea that everything is happening in one mad circle. Things always go back to where they came from. This is where he wanted to emphasize the continuous aspect of life.
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