Symbolism In The Sun Also Rises

Hemingway and the Crisis of Meaning Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises perfectly encapsulates the meaningless mentality of the post World War I or “lost” generation. Aimlessly drifting about their lives after the damaging effects of the war, the characters in this novel struggle through each of their existential crisis’s in their own ways. Hemingway illustrates this crisis of meaning through each character’s aimless view on life and the struggle the male characters have with their masculinity. This highlights the negative effect of war on American citizens and society, and the unrealistic expectations and views of the soldiers at that time. Throughout the entire duration of the book, the main characters were in a constant cycle of searching for a new adventure in the hopes of finding some excitement, getting to said adventure (be it a restaurant, bar, or a new city or country) and going through the motions of dancing wildly and consuming such copious amounts of alcohol that they could not possibly even enjoy themselves. While Hemingway never outright says that his characters are lost and searching
Before joining the armed forces, many of the men that fought in WWI viewed soldiering as a glamorous, chivalrous job. It was the ultimate way to show masculinity, and there was no job more honorable than protecting and fighting for one’s country. However, he expectations of heroism and stoicism was no match for the mass amount of pointless death, disease and suffering within the trenches of WWI, thoroughly shattering the facade and leaving the soldiers confused about their masculinity as well as their purpose in life (Carden-Coyne, French Journal of British Studies). The Sun Also Rises perfectly illustrates the disillusionment felt by many American men at the time towards their roles as men in the United