Lali the Sun Also Rises Final Paper

7/23/2019 Lali the Sun Also Rises Final Paper

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lali-the-sun-also-rises-final-paper 1/4

Karibushi 1

Lali Karibushi

IB English H.L 1

Mrs. Cornog

20/10/2015

The Sun Also Rises : The Seductive Art of Bullfighting, And its Destructive Outcomes

In the novel The Sun Also Rises, the author Ernest Hemingway dedicates various scenes

to describing the art of bullfighting through the point of view of the narrator and protagonist,

Jake Barnes. The aficionado explicitly describes the relationship between the bulls and the

matadors to develop the main themes and ideas of the novel, such as the art of bullfighting, and

the destructiveness of sex. The observations happen during a fiesta in Pamplona, Spain. A group

of several friends attend a seven day celebration in Spain with constant consumption of alcohol

and no consequences. The majority of scenes involving the depiction of bullfighting foreshadow

upcoming conflicts, allude to major themes, and contain symbolic representation throughout the

novel. The symbolism and themes derived from Jake's description of Romero's fighting skills can

be interpreted as a demonstration of Lady Brett Ashley's interactions with other male characters.

Also along with the destructive outcomes due to sex, and Hemingway's consistent metaphor

connecting the interaction of fighter and bull with the relationship between man and woman.

Therefore Brett is the driving force of the symbols and metaphors illustrated in Hemingway's

reflective and imitative passage of Jake's description of Pedro Romero's bullfighting techniques.

The concept of bullfighting as whole in the novel The Sun Also Rises denotes the idea

that relationships between men and women are often battle-like. Hemingway utilizes

bullfighting as a symbolic comment on the relationship between Brett and the other male



Karibushi 2

characters, such as Jake, Cohn, and Mike. By way of example, Hemingway states that Romero

"dominated the bull by making him realize he was unattainable"(172). He illustrates Brett as a

bull fighter, since she always seems to effortlessly manipulate the men in her life into pleasing

her, yet never is dominated by any of them. The usage of "unattainable"' brings a strong

connotation to the passage, seeing that Jake's portrayal of Romero is heavily affixed with the

image of Brett that is created throughout the novel. This is exemplified in the passage being

analyzed, during the crude p fighting. For instance, they are similar in the way they both interact

with other characters. Furthermore, the bulls function as metaphor for the men Brett is

controlling. Brett is similar to the young matador, Pedro Romero. Like he, she enjoys what she is

best at doing.

Hemingway also illustrates the interactions between bull and fighter as a skillful act of

seduction. There are suggestions that Romero "was born with"(172) the ability to bullfight,

making it a skill that "others can't ever learn." Seduction is a skill to Brett. Brett "saw how

Romero avoided every brusque movement and saved his bulls for the last when he wanted them,

not winded and discomposed but smoothly worn down"(172). Hemingway utilizes this as

symbolic imagery to convey that bullfighting can be interpreted as similar to Brett's artful

hunting of men, hence the way Romero fights, is the way Brett seduces men. "Carefully not to

get winded"(173), they are both efficient in their actions.

Hemingway employs figurative language throughout the passage to develop the main

theme of the novel i.e. the destructiveness of sex. By employing this explicit description,

Hemingway makes a connection between sexuality and danger, thus conveying it as a form of

destruction. The imagery of the bulls being "worn down"(172) symbolizes the destructiveness of



Karibushi 3

sex. Like Romero, Brett is the one causing the destruction. Furthermore, he also utilizes the

brutal killing of the bulls as a metaphor of the men who have been tromped by Brett. Their death

can be interpreted as an analogy to her break up with Cohn previously in the novel. Like the dead

bulls, Cohn feels used and abused. He is figuratively "winded and decomposed"(172), and has

been left emotionally broken. Throughout the novel Brett is constantly involved in multiple

relationships, never allowing herself to fully commit to one man, hence, keeping her sovereignty

from every man.

Hemingway's style of writing "gave real emotion"(172), it mimics the actions of bull-

fighting. Like the sport, his writing is simple and direct. Hemingway constructs his passages with

short sentences, and reports the crude action of the plot without using complicated metaphors or

similes. Instead, he incorporates simple and concise metaphors and similes into his passages to

broaden ideas and themes of the novel, not to advance the plot. His narrative style is mostly

reflected through Romero's fighting. Like Romero, Hemingway "did not have to emphasize" on

the unnecessary. He is "straight and pure and natural in line"(172), especially with his use of

rhetorical devices. He is efficient with his use of rhetorical devices, and only uses them to

elaborate on ideas. Throughout the passage, the author indirectly comments on his own style of

writing through Jake's narrative description of Romero's fighting.

In conclusion, the symbolism and themes derived from the passage conveyed by Jake's

description of Romero's fighting skills, can be interpreted to demonstrate Lady Brett Ashley's

interactions with male characters, the destructive outcomes due to sex, and Hemingway's style of

writing in relation to Romero's fighting style. Finally, the author also self commentates on his

own writing style through Jake's description of Romero's bullfighting techniques. Which



Karibushi 4

concludes to the interpretation of bullfighting as an art of seduction. Therefore, the passage that

demonstrates Romero's fighting illustrates Hemingway's efficiency in the use of metaphoric

language through characters, not to advance the plot, but to broaden the main themes and ideas

of the novel, such as the destructiveness of sex and the symbolic connection between bullfighting

and seduction.

Documents

Lali the Sun Also Rises Final Paper