Their exchange on pages 26-27 displays quite clearly how Jake and Brett feel about each other, but given the circumstances, that love is, says Brett, "hell on earth." Instead of abandoning his feelings, however, Jake is shown as heroic enough to live through not only his impairment, but also Brett's sexual escapades.
If such courage were consistently all that Jake displayed, at the end of the novel he would quite clearly merit the hero title. His petty jealousies and sadistic tendencies towards Cohn, however, destroy any possibility of that. Early in the narrative, when he and Cohn are waiting for Brett, Jake comments on Cohn's anxiety by saying, "We walked to the station. I was enjoying Cohn's nervousness." Later, he takes his sadism a step further, saying, in fact, " I liked to see him [Mike] hurt Cohn." These are not the words of a hero. It appears, from these passages, that Jake acquires some evil pleasure in the difficulties that Cohn has in their elite circle of friends, a community in which Jake seems to exist comfortably. By drawing entertainment and strength from the ways by which he feels superior to Cohn, Jake shows personal insecurities and an ego unbecoming of a traditional hero.
Also insecure with her position in life is Brett, a character Hemingway seems to enjoy using to toy with the emotions of the other characters. Brett causes almost every conflict in the story, either directly or indirectly. Given that a hero is supposed to resolve conflict rather than initiate it, Brett does not seem a likely candidate for that role. She is promiscuous, a drunk, and seems utterly unfazed by the difficulties that she causes the rest of the group. She also displays little or no sympathy for Cohn as he attempts to communicate his "crush" on her. This wanton behavior and careless disregard for the feelings of others seems to leave no opportunity for Lady Brett Ashley to assume the part of a hero.
Continue reading this essay Continue reading
Page 2 of 7