Now that I’ve finished The Sun Also Rises, I’m not sure what to make of it. It’s definitely not what I expected, and I’m left wondering about the role of Robert Cohn’s character in relation to the plot. I can most relate to Jake because we are invited into the story through his narration, but the first chapter is about Cohn and his back story. After learning of his first failed marriage and his meaningless relationship with Frances, Cohn falls head over heels for Brett. Cohn sees his secret affair with Brett as something special while the rest of the group is well aware that she is flirtatious and incapable of committing to just one man. As the story progresses, it seems Hemingway increasingly paints Cohn as a fool as he chases Brett, professing his adoration for her with no affection in return. In parts two and three of the novel, we also see more and more negative references to Cohn as a Jew – both by Mike and Brett. If The Sun Also Rises was written in 1926 after World War I and before World War II, is Cohn a representation of the brewing discrimination toward Jews that eventually emerges during the second world war? In the end, Cohn just fades away to Paris or somewhere – easily forgotten by the party of main characters but remembered by us readers for his unwanted presence and assault of Jake – a man we want to sympathize with as a survivor of World War I. There’s more to Cohn than that. As the sun rises another day following a world conflict and Jake and his crew try to get on with life, Cohn symbolizes a nagging tension that will reappear in the lives of these Europeans and Americans when World War II begins.

As for Jake, I’m assuming Brett won’t fully devote herself to him because of his impotence caused by a war injury. The two connect on an emotional level, but the relationship is never physical. Brett is not willing to sacrifice her sex life to be with a man she cares for on a more mature level when compared to other lovers such as Mike or Romero. When considering the characters of Jake’s crew, we can look at each one as a different way in which humans attempt to recover and move on with life after World War I. Brett is careless and fake. Her hair is cut short, and she wears a man’s hat. She poses the image of a rich woman – Lady Ashley ­– when in reality she is actually quite poor and doesn’t even have enough travel fare to return home. Brett represents the type of war survivor who is lost and confused – unsure of how to approach the remainder of her life. She creates a façade to cover the fact she’s unsure how to find herself. Mike is a good match for her in some ways because he too leads a reckless life. Bankrupt and a terrible drunk, he roams the country with no restrictions on his bank account or the words that fly out of his mouth.

Finally, Jake and Bill are the sensible characters who seem to have their lives together the most. Yes, Jake always makes himself available to rescue Brett, but that is his decision. He understands her ways and is willing to give much of his time, a little of his heart and some of his money just to feel some kind of emotional connection with her after surviving such a horrific war. Brett cared for him when he was injured, and I’m sure he feels indebted to her for that. Jake is the type of survivor who is capable of success and some level of happiness or contentment after the war, but emotional strings of attachment to Brett will always linger. Much like the war, he never can completely close the door on her.

I could go on and about this book. There wasn’t much of a plot, but I found myself invested in the characters. I was hooked to find out if Brett would stay with the bull fighter or wise up and find a way to be with Jake. We all know someone like Brett in real life, and it’s her beauty and casual life choices that keep us interested in her story.