5. Introduction of Novel
The Sun Also Rises, novel by Ernest Hemingway,
published in 1926. In England the book's title is Fiesta.
SUMMARY: Set in the 1920s, the novel deals with a
group of aimless expatriates in France and Spain.
6.
7. A good title is one of the most important elements of a book. One such title is The Sun
Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The title suggests an importance of time and a cyclical
motif. Yet it also has a hopeful tone, focusing more on beginnings than on endings.
There are many cycles in the book and one of the most evident is that of Lady Brett Ashley
and men. Brett has affairs with Cohn and Romero in the course of the book. In both cases
there is a process of wooing , acceptance and eventual rejection that takes place. It is also
suggested that having affairs is a common practice for her, making that a cycle in and of
itself .
The idea of cycles is also evident in a more ritualized form through the bull-fighting and
the Catholicism. One of the best examples of cycles and the passage of time is the
contrast of Romero and Belmonte. Belmonte is an old bull-fighter who has passed his
prime ; his sun is setting. Romero is a young bull-fighter who is just coming into his own
; his sun is rising. This contrast suggests the cycle of life and death.
8. Cycle of Life and Death
This cycle of life and death can be seen on a much larger scale by
looking at the ex-patriots. The ex-patriots are the members of the post
World War I generation writers and artists who are sometimes referred
to as the "Lost Generation" and Hemingway himself was one of
them. They went through the horrors of War and depression in their
young lives and found themselves seemingly devoid of morals,
spirituality and purpose so they found real meaning in
nothing(concept of nothingness in modern literature that was the
cause of absurdity) as they spent their time reveling in their sinfulness
while living in Europe. The picture of despair surrounding the verse is
typical of what he and the others who were living this life, felt
disillusioned by the materialism of post-war America. This might lead
one to think that their best days are passed. The title "The Sun Also
Rises" suggests that while things might be bad for them now,
there is always a tomorrow.
9. Despair and Hope
While the context of the verse/title is despair, there
is also hope. Though everything seems hopeless, the
sun will rise again tomorrow and then it will do so
again the next day...and the next. There is not much
hopefulness in this novel. The last words in the novel
suggest an extremely poignant sadness about Brett
and Jake and how, even if they had been given a
chance to start a relationship, it would have ended up
shipwrecked on the rocks like Brett's many other
relationships. Hemingway presents his characters as
living with moral voids that leave them unable to
create meaningful relationships.
10. Despite that hopelessness about what might have been,
there is a glimmer of hope for the future of the Lost Generation in
the rising of the sun. Symbolically, the title is also very optimistic, as
it observes that no matter what happens today and no matter what
tragedy or mistakes are made by the characters, there is hope for a
better tomorrow. This is very significance given by the novel's focus
on the so called "Lost Generation" who spent their days inanely
wandering around Europe engaging in acts of hedonistic (pleasure-
seeking) debauchery (wickedness). Even though the novel itself
seems to offer little hope for these characters, the title reminds the
reader that there is hope even for the lives of Jake and Brett. But it is
not a complete hope, it is the promise of a tomorrow which may
have more meaning and significance than today. If it does not, there
is always the next day - or the day after that.
11. Sexual Metaphor
There is another possible interpretation of the title and
that is as a sexual metaphor. The sun may be rising but
Jake's situation sure is not. With this interpretation there
seems to be a theme of unrequited love. To a certain degree
his whole generation lost something in the war. And that is
why they struggle on trying to find satisfaction and
fulfillment in life, yet never be able to fully achieve it. The
sun is setting on the lost generation, their best days have
passed them by. And that is why the thirty-four year old
Brett can not be with the nineteen year old Romero. They
are on different sides of the cycle. It is also possible that
Hemingway is saying that the sexual nature of
relationships is not important.
12. Conclusion
Hemingway shows enough images of loss and
heartbreak to give this book a possible depressing
tone. Yet that is not the ultimate message. He is not
trying to dwell on the fact that the fiesta is over. That is
because there will be other fiestas. One can never be
saddened by an ending, a new beginning is always just
around the corner. And so although the sun may set on
good times, it always rises again.
