Jake Barnes In The Sun Also Rises

Jake Barnes, the narrator and main protagonist of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises¸ embarks upon many journeys, of which he experiences a naturally developing adventure. This novel conforms to idealistic properties of a classic travel narrative as well as disguising some of these conformities as other traits. In this paper I will analyze Hemingway’s work, The Sun Also Rises, as a narrative of travel, and expound upon the many ideals and motifs behind the covers of its characters and events. Hemingway carefully crafts his characters to become infected with wanderlust and embark upon a voyage of discovery. The Sun Also Rises follows the narrator as the protagonist, Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran working as a journalist in Paris,
Jake was wounded in World War I, and while he does not explicitly state any issues that derive from the event, it is referenced a multitude of times that he is now rendered impotent (Hemingway 12). Through this, Jake shows a lack of security regarding his masculinity. The love of this life, Brett, discounts any chance at a relationship with him due to its lack of sex. He can easily be categorized as part of the “lost generation” of individuals that endured circumstances through World War I that destabilized their belief in their current world, mainly justice, morality, and love. Without these ideological principles to guide them, this generation embarked upon a meandering life, particularly Jake as he wanders the streets of Paris, and the surrounding taverns and pubs. Jake however, recognizes the lacking of the “lost generation”, and acknowledges the pain that he, not only endured from the Great War, but endures from his unreciprocated love for Brett. An interesting parallel for the reader, as Jake recognizes this predicament of the “lost generation”, but remains ensnared within
Each individual character is on their respective quest for self-discovery, and upon their arrival into the foreign land of Spain, they begin to pit against each other in efforts to claim the temptress for their own. Jake, seemingly becoming the hero, is the only one that doesn’t take part in the subtle battle quickly erupting between all of the men. The stark difference between the calm of France and the wildness of this foreign land is heavy and clear as the men lash out and burst forth into brawls (Hemingway