Is the novel “The Sun Also Rises” a tragedy or a satire? Evaluate.
The Sun Also Rises is a notable literary work by Ernest Hemingway. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Sun Also Rises.
Answer
Is the novel “The Sun Also Rises” a tragedy or a satire? Evaluate. [NU: 2017, 21] ★★★
Ernest Hemingway’s (1899-1961) “The Sun Also Rises” (1926) shows the “lost generation.” The story moves from Paris to Spain. Jake Barnes, Lady Brett Ashley, Robert Cohn, Mike Campbell, and Bill Gorton search for love, joy, and meaning. Their struggle makes the novel deep.
Tragedy of Jake and Brett: Jake Barnes is wounded in war. He cannot live a normal love life. Brett says,
“Don’t touch me… I can’t stand it.”
Jake loves her, but love is impossible. Their taxi rides in Paris show both closeness and distance. Brett cries,
“Oh, darling, I’ve been so miserable.”
This broken love makes the novel a tragedy.
Satire of Robert Cohn and Paris Life: Robert Cohn always dreams of adventure and escape. He feels his life is passing too quickly. Jake does not take his dreams seriously and often makes fun of him. In Paris, cafés like the Select and the Bal Musette show people wasting time in drinking and dancing. Hemingway uses satire here to criticize these empty lives and false dreams.
Tragic Satire in Spain: In Pamplona, Spain, the bullfights display real courage and strength. But the group of friends fail to match that courage. Mike spends his time drinking, Bill keeps making jokes, and Cohn creates fights because of Brett. The fiesta that should bring joy ends in sadness and broken hearts. This mix of pain and foolishness makes the story both tragic and satiric.
The novel mixes tragedy and satire. The broken love of Jake and Brett is tragic. The foolishness of Cohn, Mike, and others is satiric. Hemingway shows that the “lost generation” suffers pain and laughs at life at the same time.