Discuss the Impact of World War I on the Lives of the Characters in “The Sun Also Rises.”

Answer

Discuss the impact of World War I on the lives of the characters in “The Sun Also Rises.”

World War I (1914-18) had a deep and lasting impact on the characters in Ernest Hemingway’s (1899-1961) novel “The Sun Also Rises” (1926). The war changed their lives in ways that are reflected in their actions, thoughts, and relationships throughout the story.

These characters are often referred to as the “lost generation.” They struggle with a sense of aimlessness and loss as they try to find meaning in a world that the war has forever changed.

Jake Barnes – A Symbol of Post-War Loss: The main character, Jake Barnes, is a clear example of how the war has affected people. Jake fought in the war and came out of it with a severe injury that left him impotent (sexually disabled). This physical injury is symbolic of the deeper emotional and psychological wounds he carries. Jake’s injury prevents him from having a fulfilling romantic relationship with Lady Brett, the woman he loves. 

Everybody’s sick. I’m sick, too.

Jake makes this remark to Georgette when she wonders why he does not want to kiss. The comment refers both to Jake’s wartime injury and the general sense of discomfort everyone feels after the war.

Jake’s unfulfilled love with Brett represents, in a broader sense, all the characters searching for something to fill the emptiness left by the war, but they cannot find it.

Shattered Ideals of Masculinity: The war also took away the sense of honor, courage, and heroism that people once associated with being a man. After the brutal warfare in World War I, where soldiers faced machine guns, mortars, and gas weapons, traditional ideas of bravery and masculinity seemed meaningless. For Jake and his friends, the war destroyed these ideals. They are unsure of who they are or what they believe in. Instead, they drift from one place to another, trying to escape their memories of the war and the feelings of loss. Jake says,

Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy.

Jake escapes his emotions through drinking, like many other members of the ‘Lost Generation’.

Robert Cohn’s Struggle: Although Robert Cohn did not fight in the war, he is still affected by it. Cohn feels out of place among his friends, who often mock him for being too romantic or not tough enough. He clings to old ideals of love and adventure, but these ideas seem out of touch with the post-war reality that the other characters experience. Cohn’s longing for something meaningful only highlights the emptiness that the others feel.

Brett’s Restlessness: Lady Brett Ashley, the novel’s main female character, is another person whose life has been shaped by the war. During the war, Brett worked as a nurse and fell in love with Jake. However, the war and Jake’s injury have left her unable to commit to a lasting relationship. Jake says to Brett,

Couldn’t we live together, Brett? Couldn’t we just live together? 

Jake begs Brett for a life together in this heartbreaking line, but she rejects him. Since Jake has become impotent, Brett knows her need for sex, which she would have to get from other men, would break Jake’s heart.

Brett moves from one lover to another, never finding satisfaction or happiness. Her behavior reflects the disillusionment that many people felt after the war. They lost their faith in love, honor, and the idea of a stable future.

In “The Sun Also Rises,” World War I casts a long shadow over the lives of the characters. The war destroyed their sense of purpose, leaving them lost and searching for meaning in a world that no longer makes sense.