As I see it, the major conflict in this entire story is love, namely so-and-so in love with Brett.
Let's count up Brett's mentioned lovers!
Jake Barnes: Our bleeding heart protagonist. He's a struggling writer/journalist who was changed permanently from the war. He met Brett during the war while she was a nurse and he was wounded.
Michael: A lovely man who is constantly drunk, but who isn't in this story! He is engaged to Brett, but he definitely knows what he is in for. He knows that Brett fools around with other men and that she is not going to change any time soon. He even comments on how she is cheating on him with other men right in front of him.
Count M: A random Count who buys Brett some alcohol and takes her out every once in a while in Paris. Apparently she has told him that she still loves Jake and yet he is perfectly fine with fooling around with her.
Robert Cohn: Hopelessly in love with Brett--unrequited love that is. He went away with Brett for a weekend or so in San Sebastian, and he has been hooked ever since. He even beat up Romero because of his jealousy!
Romero: The young, suave bull fighter. This may be the only guy besides Jake and her previous husband that she has actually been in love with. Believe it or not, Brett suddenly was unselfish and let him go so she would not interfere with his career.
Those are the important lovers among possibly hundreds not mentioned.
"Why didn't you keep him?"
"I don't know. It isn't the sort of thing one does. I don't think I hurt him any." [page 245].
Brett never thinks she hurts her men any, but I'm pretty sure she leaves a much larger impact than what she thinks. I'm kind of over her at this point. Stop abusing love, Brett.
Let's count up Brett's mentioned lovers!
Jake Barnes: Our bleeding heart protagonist. He's a struggling writer/journalist who was changed permanently from the war. He met Brett during the war while she was a nurse and he was wounded.
Michael: A lovely man who is constantly drunk, but who isn't in this story! He is engaged to Brett, but he definitely knows what he is in for. He knows that Brett fools around with other men and that she is not going to change any time soon. He even comments on how she is cheating on him with other men right in front of him.
Count M: A random Count who buys Brett some alcohol and takes her out every once in a while in Paris. Apparently she has told him that she still loves Jake and yet he is perfectly fine with fooling around with her.
Robert Cohn: Hopelessly in love with Brett--unrequited love that is. He went away with Brett for a weekend or so in San Sebastian, and he has been hooked ever since. He even beat up Romero because of his jealousy!
Romero: The young, suave bull fighter. This may be the only guy besides Jake and her previous husband that she has actually been in love with. Believe it or not, Brett suddenly was unselfish and let him go so she would not interfere with his career.
Those are the important lovers among possibly hundreds not mentioned.
"Why didn't you keep him?"
"I don't know. It isn't the sort of thing one does. I don't think I hurt him any." [page 245].
Brett never thinks she hurts her men any, but I'm pretty sure she leaves a much larger impact than what she thinks. I'm kind of over her at this point. Stop abusing love, Brett.
August 12, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Completely agree- O'Brien kept my attention while Hemingway seemed to play with it. I began thinking it must be the time period and writing style. It was a relief to have The Sun Also Rises over with though!
August 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM
It's like Hemingway has this little writer's ADHD or something and purposely tries to play with your emotion. It's interesting but not engaging to read.
August 22, 2010 at 11:10 PM
hundreds?!