The Sun Also Rises

I must say that I was rather disappointed with the ending of the story, especially considering what I expected from a novel by the great Ernest Hemingway. I have previously stated that the humor and the Anti-Semitism he uses in the novel are extremely surprising mainly because I was intimidated to read one of his novels; the same can be said about the ending. I expected some grand extravagant plot twist that held some deep meaning like in Star Wars when we discover that Darth Vader is really Luke Skywalker's father. Unfortunately that did not occur, as the novel ends with Brett Ashley leaving Pedro Romero and meeting Jacob Barnes in an anticlimactic bar scene, one of the many in the novel. In fact, the entire Book III was pretty bland, as it merely depicted all of the characters, Mike, Bill, and previously Robert Cohn, leaving and the main character Jacob Barnes being left alone and reflecting upon himself. There is one interesting point in th final section of the novel and that is in the last dialogue between Jake and Brett. Brett states that "Oh, Jake, we could have had such a damned good time together" (Hemingway 251). Jake replies "Yes, isn't it pretty to think so" Hemingway (251). Research I have done indicates that the lines are some of the more famous lines ever written by Hemingway and it is easy to see why. It is almost as if all of the events of the novel have been leading up to the scene where the two character, Brett and Jake, have gone through a series of experiences only to end up back to where they were in the beginning with only each other. In the opening scenes of the novel, Jake and Brett proclaim that they are in love with each other, yet can not be together for reasons I still do not completely understand. This relationship between the two is the only constant thing that remains throughout the novel as Robert Cohn, Count Mippipopolous, and Pedro Romero each take turns trying to get Brett but each fails, a failure indicative of how only Jake has a position of love with Brett. Not only is the last line famous because of its deep quality, but is also very sad and you can practically feel the futility that Jake feels. I am guessing that the reason Brett doesn't want to be with Jake is that he can not have sex due to injuries from the war. This is something that Jake can not help as he received the wound while serving for his country. Because Jake can not control his injury, sadness is given off by the last scene.
Another thing that is interesting is how Hemingway attempts to use Pedro Romero as a perfect foil to Robert Cohn. Robert is a weak individual and is most importantly a "Jew" so is looked down upon. Romero is a beautiful and handsome man with the courage to actually fight and kill a bull in a fight. This is not their only difference as Brett's reactions toward the gentlemen can also be seen as a major difference. Brett constantly rejects Cohn, but readily accepts Pedro Romero. There are also underlying themes of individuality such as how Brett loses her individuality when going with Pedro and regains it when she leaves Romero.