Symbolism in The Sun Also Rises In novels, symbolism plays a major role in defining characters and getting the overall theme of the story across. In The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, symbolism is very useful in that matter. In the novel, it is pointed out that everyone in life is related to what goes on during a bullfight. The steer brings all the other bulls together, but is also the most likely to get hurt. The bull is strong and resembles a person with passion and strength. The matador is used to kill the bull, something that they once loved. The symbol of bullfighting in this novel is used to represent the character relationships between Jake and Brett, as well as serving as a parallel to the life events happening between these characters.
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When they are watching the bullfight, in response to a steer, Brett is in shock and says, “My God, isn’t he beautiful?” (Hemingway 139). Brett sees that both the steer and Jake have beauty, both inner and outer with a swift syke and a fascinating way that she knows is dangerous and should not mess with. When Jake tells Brett to “not look” at the bullfight, this is representing how he does not want her to look at him in a way that could hurt his heart. Unfortunately, Brett characterizes the steer and Jake in the back of her head, knowing that they are beautiful but she shouldn’t play with them, much like a bull would. Another way the bullfights characterize the characters in the book, is the way Jake brings Brett and Romero together. A steer is known to bring all the other bulls together, in risk of getting hurt. Even though Jake loves Brett, he willingly helps Brett and Romero get together. When Brett is sad about not being able to communicate with Romero, Jake advises her to “ask him to come over and have a drink” (Hemingway 184). When Brett didn’t do so and Romero comes over without asking, Jake steps up and tells him to have a drink, which helps Brett get closer to him. Through this process, their relationship grows, and Jake, much like a steer would, gets hurt. Although it is not the same type of “hurt” a steer …show more content…
In the very beginning of the novel, it is stated that “nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull fighters” (Hemingway 34). While this might be taken literally, it can also be referenced to Jake being the bull fighter this time, and Brett the bull, specifically when this same topic is brought up again in chapter 13. When Montoya is talking to Jake, he talks about aficionados, stating it as someone with a lot of passion. They “could forgive anything of a bull-fighter who had aficion. [They] could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. For one who had aficion he could forgive anything” (Hemingway 132). Jake is passionate for Brett. No matter how many times she rejects him, he is always still there, falling madly in love with her. He is relentless and will do anything to have Brett accept the love he possesses for her, much like a passionate bullfighter will forgive anything, just for the love of the game. When Brett is heartbroken about Romero, she asks if he “could come [to her] hotel” and that she “[was] in trouble” (Hemingway 239). Jake travels to where she is, as fast as she can, even though he thinks she is still with Romero. In life,when a person truly loves somebody else, they will be happy for them when they are with someone else; just because they
When they are watching the bullfight, in response to a steer, Brett is in shock and says, “My God, isn’t he beautiful?” (Hemingway 139). Brett sees that both the steer and Jake have beauty, both inner and outer with a swift syke and a fascinating way that she knows is dangerous and should not mess with. When Jake tells Brett to “not look” at the bullfight, this is representing how he does not want her to look at him in a way that could hurt his heart. Unfortunately, Brett characterizes the steer and Jake in the back of her head, knowing that they are beautiful but she shouldn’t play with them, much like a bull would. Another way the bullfights characterize the characters in the book, is the way Jake brings Brett and Romero together. A steer is known to bring all the other bulls together, in risk of getting hurt. Even though Jake loves Brett, he willingly helps Brett and Romero get together. When Brett is sad about not being able to communicate with Romero, Jake advises her to “ask him to come over and have a drink” (Hemingway 184). When Brett didn’t do so and Romero comes over without asking, Jake steps up and tells him to have a drink, which helps Brett get closer to him. Through this process, their relationship grows, and Jake, much like a steer would, gets hurt. Although it is not the same type of “hurt” a steer …show more content…
In the very beginning of the novel, it is stated that “nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull fighters” (Hemingway 34). While this might be taken literally, it can also be referenced to Jake being the bull fighter this time, and Brett the bull, specifically when this same topic is brought up again in chapter 13. When Montoya is talking to Jake, he talks about aficionados, stating it as someone with a lot of passion. They “could forgive anything of a bull-fighter who had aficion. [They] could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. For one who had aficion he could forgive anything” (Hemingway 132). Jake is passionate for Brett. No matter how many times she rejects him, he is always still there, falling madly in love with her. He is relentless and will do anything to have Brett accept the love he possesses for her, much like a passionate bullfighter will forgive anything, just for the love of the game. When Brett is heartbroken about Romero, she asks if he “could come [to her] hotel” and that she “[was] in trouble” (Hemingway 239). Jake travels to where she is, as fast as she can, even though he thinks she is still with Romero. In life,when a person truly loves somebody else, they will be happy for them when they are with someone else; just because they