Significance of Bullfighting and Fighters in “The Sun Also Rises?”
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
What is the significance of bullfighting and fighters in “The Sun Also Rises?”
In “The Sun Also Rises,” (1926) Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) uses bullfighting as a powerful symbol to explore deeper themes related to war, masculinity, and human relationships. The significance of bullfighting in the novel extends beyond its role as a cultural event. It serves as a metaphor for the struggles and conflicts faced by the characters, particularly the male protagonists who are part of the “lost generation.”
Symbol of War and Lost Ideals: Bullfighting represents the ideals of courage, skill, and honor that were once associated with war but were shattered by the brutal realities of World War I. For the characters in the novel, especially Jake Barnes, bullfighting is a reminder of what war was supposed to be—a test of bravery and skill where victory brings glory. However, the trench warfare of World War I with heavy machine guns, mortars, and gas weapons, destroyed these romantic notions of bravery and masculinity. Jake says,
Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy.
Jake escapes his emotions through drinking, like many other disillusioned members. In the bullring, the matador faces the bull in a direct, face-to-face combat, symbolizing a type of battle that the characters no longer believe exists in the real world.
Representation of Masculinity: The bullfight is also a representation of masculinity. In the novel, the male characters are deeply insecure about their masculinity, a result of the trauma they experienced during the war. Jake, who has been physically emasculated (sexually disabled) by a war injury, is particularly drawn to the bullfights. He admires the matadors who display a kind of masculinity that he feels he has lost. Jake says,
Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.
It reflects the admiration that Jake and others have for bullfighters, who embody the courage and skill that they feel is missing in their own lives after the war.