If Words Could Kill...

"And this was friendly joking to what went on later" was Jake's foreshadowing the words Frances, Robert Cohn's wife, would throw at her husband as she prepared to leave him. Cohn is described as one who people should have a hard time insulting, but Frances makes it clear that this she finds ease in emptying her frustrations before Cohn and Jake. Hemingway describes in an oxymoron how Frances turned to Jake "with that terribly bright smile" because she enjoyed having him there. We know that there was nothing "bright" to Frances' smile, but she simply put it on her face to act unscathed by the news she was about to deliver to Cohn. She hoped that by acting in a calm manner with Jake around, her husband would be further humiliated and hurt by her accusations. Cohn's wife makes fun of his "writer's block" and accuses him of having other women. She knows he is bored with her and has no problems literally laying all the issues on the table in front of them with Jake, Cohn's so-called friend, sitting right there. Her smile mocked the private, touchy subjects she presented.

Hemingway's Subtle Thoughts

Several times throughout The Sun Also Rises Hemingway incorporates some of his observations and problems into those of his characters. For instance, Jake tries to convince Robert Cohn that traveling to far off places provides no escape from oneself; Jake says "I've tried all that" (page 19). Hemingway traveled all over the world, and here it seems that he is including one of his findings from all his travels: no matter how big the troubles or how far one tries to run, one cannot escape the problems life presents.
On page 34, Jake presents for the first time the topic of an injury acquired from the war. Hemingway, while serving the Red Cross, was also wounded during World War I, and he links the two similarities of himself to his character Jake Barnes. Likewise, Hemingway may be presenting some of his personal writing problems as he describes how Cohn is a struggling writer on page 51.

Summer Work- The Sun Also Rises

My first posts will consist of literary terms found and observations made while reading The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Here we go!!

Bottles Up!

I've come to realize throughout The Sun Also Rises that the 1920's was an era where drinking was prominent. The Paris nightlife and fiestas of Spain provide a basis for much alcohol consumption! Jake Barnes and Robert Cohn share a drink of whiskey and soda. While at the bar, Cohn points out what a nice place it is and Barnes' response of agreement is "there's a lot of liquor" (page 19). Barnes' comment indicates the desire for liquor almost constantly, especially while residing in Paris. The characters seem to drink at a constant rate where every other page has some description of a bar they visit or a night club they dance at; furthermore, at all of these places, alcohol is consumed. The consuming of liquor as described in the story is relevant for the time period of which Hemingway wrote the book. Prohibition is over, so alcohol seems to be praised! The Americans- Cohn, Barnes, etc.- in Europe seem at ease throwing "bottles up."