Discuss Hemingway’s treatment of religion in “The Sun Also Rises.”

Answer

Discuss Hemingway’s treatment of religion in “The Sun Also Rises.” [NU: 2021]

Ernest Hemingway’s (1899-1961) novel “The Sun Also Rises,” published in 1926 after World War I, shows a deep and thoughtful look at religion. The novel’s characters belong to what is called the “lost generation.” These people lived through the war and became confused and hopeless afterward. They started to lose faith in old beliefs, including religion. Hemingway shows how religion became less important in their lives.

Jake Barnes’ Mixed Feelings About Religion: The main character, Jake Barnes, has a complicated connection with religion. He was raised as a Catholic. But now his belief seems weak and unclear. In some parts of the novel, Jake thinks about religion, but he does not seem very serious or confident. For example, when Jake goes to a church in Paris, he says he does not feel right about praying. He even wonders if God is really listening. Jake says,

“I was a little ashamed, and regretted that I was such a rotten Catholic.”

This line shows that Jake feels bad about not being a good believer. He seems unsure about his faith. His confusion and doubt show how much the war has affected him—even in his religious beliefs.

Robert Cohn’s Jewish Background and His Search for Meaning: Jake’s friend Robert Cohn is Jewish. Cohn’s friends sometimes make fun of him for this. But religion is not a big part of his life either. He does not seem to follow any religious practices. His Jewish identity is just part of his background, not something he follows deeply. Cohn tries to find meaning in life through other things, like love, writing, or traveling. At one point, Jake tells Cohn:

“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”

This line shows that they live in a world where people are always trying to escape their problems. But moving around provides no comfort. Religion does not seem to help