Jake Barnes and Robert Cohn: Analysing Similar Aspects of the Characters
From romantic encounters to general friendships, almost everyone experiences some type of relationship. Relationships are an important part of life, but sometimes relationships can become complicated, especially when love is involved. Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, provides insufficient information about his characters and instead allows them to be revealed through their dialogue, their actions, and their interactions with one another. In particular, aside from only incorporating descriptions through Jake’s narration, Jake Barnes and Robert Cohn’s relationships contain parallels and similarities that can allow more in depth understanding of the characters. By contrasting how Jake and Robert deals with and react to their romantic relationships, it illuminates both men. One may observe these characteristics by exploring how Jake and Robert endure the abuse from their love interests and overall reactions to Brett’s rejection.
The abuse that the reader can observe is both subtle and very apparent. Jake braves constant mental abuse from Brett. Brett’s promiscuousness places him in a miserable and uncomfortable position. Jake feels “it is awfully easy to be hard-boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night it is another thing” (Hemingway 42). Jake’s agony is displayed at night when he reminisces the depression he experiences during days where Brett was present. Brett is comfortable with Jake so she continuously proceeds to confide in him even at the expense of his feelings. Brett will tell him “[o]h, darling…I’m so miserable” (Hemingway 70). Even though she will not commit to Jake, Brett openly hangs onto him and will not give up the relationship she currently has with him. Toying with Jake’s obvious love for her, she uses him for emotional support, but yet will torment him with her escapades with other men. Brett will bring men around Jake, tell him of her affairs and before Jake can voice his thought regarding it, she digresses from the
The abuse that the reader can observe is both subtle and very apparent. Jake braves constant mental abuse from Brett. Brett’s promiscuousness places him in a miserable and uncomfortable position. Jake feels “it is awfully easy to be hard-boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night it is another thing” (Hemingway 42). Jake’s agony is displayed at night when he reminisces the depression he experiences during days where Brett was present. Brett is comfortable with Jake so she continuously proceeds to confide in him even at the expense of his feelings. Brett will tell him “[o]h, darling…I’m so miserable” (Hemingway 70). Even though she will not commit to Jake, Brett openly hangs onto him and will not give up the relationship she currently has with him. Toying with Jake’s obvious love for her, she uses him for emotional support, but yet will torment him with her escapades with other men. Brett will bring men around Jake, tell him of her affairs and before Jake can voice his thought regarding it, she digresses from the