More Confusing French Etiquette

Eat. Drink. Eat. Drink. Eat. Drink. Eat some more. Drink. Dance. Drink. Come one Mr. Hemingway, there has to be more to the story than eating and drinking non-stop. Every chapter of the book consists of a meal, preceded by and followed by alcohol. Like I mentioned earlier on in my blog, maybe drinking is an important motif and ties in with the plot. Chapter 14 now and still have not figured the plot..or even came to the climax. Maybe the author is simply trying to teach us about boring French culture. Did I miss the message or is it yet to come in the last few chapters? The French are confusing; therefore, I have no more commentary.

Allusion Allusion Allusion

On page 148, Mike refers to Brett as Circe."He calls her Circe..he claims she turns men into swine." This is an allusion to Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. This is completely true about her! Like I have been saying all along! She is a sneaky risque temptress to all of the men. Like we would say in our day.."She's hot and she knows it." Hearing this made me laugh out loud. Finally someone tells Brett what people truly think of her. The funny thing is, she does'nt seem to care all that much. I must say - I cannot stand cocky women such as Lady Brett Ashley (highpitched sarcastic voice!) :P

Mike's tight.

"Tight" and at it again, Michael Campbell reveals his true character after the bull fight. While getting drinks (similar to EVERY SINGLE scene in the novel) Mike becomes drunk and tells the gang all about Robert Cohn. Everyone their already knew it but no one dared to say it..that is except the rather tipsy Mike.

"Tell me Robert. Why do you follow Brett around like a bloody steer? Don't you know you're not wanted?" ---- Simile: comparing Cohn to the steers in the bull fight that follow around the bulls even though they are not wanted

He makes it clear to all that Brett and Robert had an affair. My question is...why does he (Brett's fiance) seem to be calm about it? Does cheating mean anything to them in Europe? And how is Brett sitting there so calm and quiet? It all seems weird to me..and extremely different from how we do things in the States.

Bull fighting

The scene of the bull festival really grabbed my interest. I only know the things seen on tv and movies about bull fighting. I had no idea the steers were used for "bait" to calm down the wild bulls. I also had no idea people made such a sport of it. After reading it, I immediately Youtubed some videos to deepen my understanding (as shown above).

I am also wondering if the bull fighting stood as a metaphor of some kind to the situation happening amongst the characters. Any ideas?

Lost Plot

I am on chapter fourteen, over halfway through the book, and I am still not clear on the complete plot or theme of the novel. So far I've met and experienced many different characters interacting with the narrator (Jake Barnes), but no certain conflict really jumps off the page. The only one I have an idea about is Brett. The way she interacts with specific MALE characters is rather charming and risque. I'm wondering who this sly beauty will end up with at the end of the story. Will she marry Mike Campbell? Will she continue her affair with Robert Cohn? Or will she be with her true love Jake Barnes? I can turn this novel into something romantic that interests me. Hey, isnt that what a good reader is supposed to do? :p

Recession

On page 141, Mike Campbell tells the gang why and how he went bankrupt. "..I had alot of friends. False friends. Then I had creditors too. Probably had more than anybody in England." Set in the post World War I era during the roaring twenties, this consequence with finance reminds me of the United States economy today. Just before the the 1930's the economy in Europe was booming and people were in over their heads with riches..only to watch them fall. Similarily, our economy today is in a recession; even though, only 5 or 6 years ago it was flourishing.



Also something to think about...the European men love to gamble. They gamble almost about everything - bridge, bull fighting, boxing. I don't understand the European motivation for alcohol, let alone gambling.

Drunk Motif

Of course Europe is overflowing with speaciality wine and liquor, but this is something unfamiliar to the United States. Yes drinking alcohol is a common thing for us Americans but surely not as much as the Europeans. They seem to drink some form of alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) like it is water! I believe the author uses drinking and becoming "tight" or "cock-eyed" (pgs 85, 122, 144--as well as other places throughout the book) as a motif. I think he is either trying to show the European culture or another idea not yet revealed. I'll be keeping a close eye out for more "drunk motifs."

To Be Continued. . .

Irony and PIty

Irony - the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

Pity - to have compassion; sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another


Page 118-120 discussed irony and pity. Bill Gorton sings a song about these words, and then speaks with irony and pity in his sentences. I do not see exactly what he means by this. "..You ought to be ironical the minute you get out of bed. You ought to wake up with a mouth full of pity." Gorton is attempting to get Jake to speak like a true writer!

Nervous and Cold

NERVOUS: I was right! Robert and Brett did have relations in San Sebastian. "She said she wanted to get out of town and she can't go anywhere alone. She said it would be good for him" (page 107). So she is a sneaky mistress who needs company at all times. Poor Robert. He was soo nervous and his "friends" thought it was funny to make fun of him. Sounds familiar to our teenage lives huh? I wonder if Brett and Mike will ever show up for the trip.

COLD: The cold weather during the summer in Spain puzzles me. I wonder if Bill and Jake will continue on with their fishing trip. In my opinion, they need to suck it up and go ice fishing!! :)

Something familiar!

I found out on page 102 and 103 that Jake Barnes is a Catholic. It makes much more sense to me now...all the drinking and dancing and whatnot that him and his friends participated in. Us Catholics can really relate. Hearing about the grand cathedral and Jake's prayers also brings familiarity into the reading. In our faith we are instructed to kneel and pray everytime we enter a church, just as Jake did. His 'shameful' prayers remind me of myself and a few of my fellow classmates..we simply prayer for ourselves and what we want/need only when it is convenient for us. I love this specific scene of the novel because I can clearly relate.

Sneaky Mistress

Brett's at it again! What is with her and her "men"? She seems to have every male in the story lined up to be with her. Is she just a flirt? That's what I thought when I read page 89 and 90. "Who do you think I went down to San Sebastian with," said Brett of Robert Cohn. Does this mean she was his mistress for a few days? "He behaved rather well, too. He gets a little dull." I still cannot figure you out Miss Brett. The duke, Jake, the count, Mike Campbell, and now Robert? She goes back and forth between them all and they follow her around as if she was the last woman on the planet. All I can say is I feel sorry for these poor strung-out men.

Bill Gorton and the Vienna fight

When I read Bill Gorton's (a new character introduced in chapter 8) story about the fight he saw in Vienna I had mixed feelings. On page 77 Gorton is describing to Jake Barnes a boxing fight he saw between a "nigger" and a local boy from Vienna. I become upset hearing that the local people would not give the African American boy his prize money because he has beaten the white boy. Of course I felt easier that Mr. Bill Gorton and his friends helped the African American boy.

In my opinion, this scene really shows the universality of the novel. It shows that prejudices and injustices not only happened in the United States, but also in Europe. It also shows the timelessness of the novel because there are still certain people who act this way towards different races. Unfortunately inequality will never really disappear completely.

Woah, she's ROUND!

Chapter seven concludes Book I in the novel. It ends by showing Brett's characteristics and complexity. Brett and the Count.. (her friend? Confused by their relationship.).. come visit Jake Barnes at his home. They sit and chat about people, pasts, and knowledge that each has acquired. Nothing of great significance happens in this scence except for illustrating Brett's dynamic personalities. She has many friends, acqaintances, and expierences to share. On page 67, Brett brings up personal values and falling in love which reveals the gentle side of her. In my opinion, the purpose of this chapter is to show the audience that Brett is a round character. Also leaves the possibility of being a dynamic character if she somehow changes by the end of the novel..

He's whipped.

Pages 56, 57, and 58 lay out the real relationship between Robert Cohn and Frances.
The awkward conversation between Frances, Robert, and Jake occurs rather suddenly. Frances reveals that Robert is leaving her to find some sort of "new material" for his new writing, but actually she is being sarcastic. In my opinion, the underlying meaning is that Robert will not marry her.
"I know the real reason why Robert won't marry me...Why you see, Roberts always wantrd to have a mistress, and if he doesn't marry me, then he's had one." (page 58)



Frances continues to scold Robert in front of Jake, illustrating how controlling and bitter she is about the whole situation. I feel sorry for poor Robert sitting there taking the ridicule...and it seems that Jake does too.

Backwards Dramatic Irony

On page 46, Krum (one of Jake Barnes' friends) asks Jake about Lady Brett Ashley. Jake then reveals that Brett is getting a divorce so she will no longer be Lady Ashley. "She is getting a divorce and going to marry Mike Campbell.." Getting divorced but not marrying Jake? The man who she proposed to love only the chapter before? I am still wondering why Brett and Jake cannot be together; even though it is clear they adore each other. To me, this situation is dramatic irony in reverse. Instead of the audience knowing something the characters do not, the characters know something that has not yet been revealed to the audience.

Brett and Jake 101

Alright I am confused again! Brett Ashley is introduced in chapter three and leaves the resturant with Jake, whom she supposedly has history with. The author does not come right out and reveal anything about Brett and Jake, so we are left to decipher their conversation in the beginning of chapter four on pages 33, 34, and 35.
.
"Don't you love me?" (Jake)
"Love you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me." (Brett)
"Isn't there anything we can do about it?" (Jake)
"....I don't want to go through that hell again.." (Brett)
"We better keep away from each other." (Jake)

They continue to talk and kiss. My question is what is the history behing all their "heartache". And why is it impossible for them to be together since she is getting a divorce? More confusing French etiquette I guess.

Protagonist? Protagonist!

After the first four chapters I have finally figured out who the protagonist - or central character - is in The Sun Also Rises. Jake Barnes, the narrator, reveals many different characters throughout the beginning chapters; however, he is the main character himself. The first two chapters describe Robert Cohn, but then drift away to reveal Jake's characteristics and point of view. Speaking of point of view, the novel is written in first person POV. Jake is not only the protagonist, but the narrator. As the audience, we see and hear everything only from his perspective. Although first person POV is easier to follow while reading, it sometimes becomes boring when only reading one opinion over and over.

Confusion of French Etiquette

Maybe someone can help me out here.. In chapter 3 when Jake Barnes meets Georgette Hobin, did they know each other previously? Because she just plops down at his table and the two carry about a normal conversation without much introduction. I'm not clear if this is just how they kick it in France or if they have a certain history together that the author has yet to reveal. Another thing that confuses me is the next scene when they meet with Jake's friends (ie Mr. and Mrs. Braddocks, Robert Cohn, Frances). On page 25, Jake introduces his "new" lady friend Georgette as his fiance? They just met! ... I think? I've come to two conclusions: this is French etiquette that is foreign to us Americans, or it is simply a joke. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Robert Cohn

In the first chapter of The Sun Also Rises, the author introduces Robert Cohn and his background characteristics. To me, it seems that Hemingway incorporates both direct and indirect characterization of Cohn. On page 11, the author describes Cohn's boxing career at Princeton and quotes, "...he never fought except in the gym." This reveals to the audience that Cohn wasn't truly a fighter, only an athlete who knew when the appropriate time was to practice his skill. This acts as a form of indirect characterization. A few lines down on that same page the author quotes, "He was really very fast.", a form of direct characterization. On pages 12 and 13 Hemingway continues to describe Cohn using direct characterization. "He was a nice boy, a friendly boy, and very shy.." (page 12) "He was fairly happy.." (page 13)