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Jake's Eventual Acceptance That His Hopes Are Futile

In the beginning of The Sun Also Rises it is clear that Brett and Jake have a complex relationship. This complexity stems from not only how their relationship works but also how they view each other: specifically how Jake views Brett. Jake has somewhat of a love hate relationship with Brett. He is happier without her in his life but cannot let go because of his love for her. Their relationship itself is somewhat open where Brett turns to other men to get what Jake cannot provide but uses Brett for his emotional availability and stability. After each failed relationship Brett comes back to Jake using him as an emotional anchor. Jake becomes noticeably happier from his lack of thoughts of Brett once he goes to Spain. Near the end of the novel Brett sends a frantic message to Jake to pick her up after her excursion with Romero. Jake drops everything to help Brett showing his dedication for her. 

Although their relationship stays the same throughout the book, Jake’s view changes. In Paris Jake directly asks Brett, "Couldn't we live together, Brett? Couldn't we just live together?" to which Brett replies, "I don't think so. I'd just tromper you with everybody. You couldn't stand it." This dialogue shows Jake’s desire for a monogamous relationship with Brett yet she rejects him. At this point in the plot Jake still has hope for an exclusive relationship with Brett. This mindset dissipates as the novel progresses. Comparing this dialogue to the taxi cab scene at the end of the book shows Jake’s development. In this scene, Brett tells Jake, "We could have had such a damned good time together," to which Jake responds, "Yes... Isn't it pretty to think so?" (Hemingway 259). This interaction is bittersweet and reveals a moment of clarity. Jake’s response suggests that he has accepted the impossibility of a romantic relationship with Brett, showing a shift in his perspective. He recognizes the futility of their longing and the unattainable nature of their relationship. Furthermore, his tone seems resigned in this scene: emotionally detaching. This could be read as Jake simply being indifferent to Brett’s antics or him finally giving up. Jake seems to realize that a future with Brett is impossible, letting go of his fantasy with her. Jake’s resignation isn’t just about his relationship with Brett: it’s an acknowledgment of the limits imposed on him by his circumstances and their complex bond. By stepping back Jake is no longer chasing something he can’t have but instead finds a bittersweet comfort in simply accepting it. 

Comments

  1. Annika DOctober 29, 2024 at 3:06 PM

    Your take on a bittersweet acceptance from Jake strikes me an optimistic view for the ending. I initially noted the ending as a shutting down of the possibility of Jake being with Brett further. However, the question mark at the end of the sentence does make the tone seem more positive. Perhaps they will go on and experience a grand monogamous future together like Jake always dreamed of.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 1, 2024 at 7:18 AM

    There is a sense of restlessness in Paris, while in Spain, he is able to calmly reflect on his life. He vividly describes the environment around him relaxingly, away from the chaotic distractions of Paris. Spain is a place of comfort, clarity, and rational thought for Jake.

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  3. EllaNovember 4, 2024 at 10:36 AM

    I think one thing that's important to understand about the story and Jake and Brett's relationship, while relatively unchanging throughout the story, becomes interpreted differently (at least by Jake) at the very end of the story, as you point out. While this doesn't seem to make much of a difference to us, who see them still together by the end of the book, perhaps Jake's realization is an indication that the nature of their relationship might change in those unwritten future chapters.

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  4. Luke FahnestockNovember 4, 2024 at 11:37 AM

    Jake's desire for Brett is definitely confusing, as he simultaneously hates seeing her and wants to run off to the countryside and live with her. Perhaps in the final scene he realizes that his desire to live with her is nothing but an unattainable "pretty" thought, and he is able to finally come to terms with the impossibility of a legitimate romantic relationship.

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  5. Rohail AamerNovember 4, 2024 at 4:24 PM

    I like this interpretation a lot. I think it makes the ending of the book more satisfactory and less depressing, showing how Jake has finally decided to move on. This makes the ending of the book feel more conclusive and shows Jake finally evolving and changing as a character.

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