Significance of Bullfighting and Fighters in “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.

Pedro Romero: The bullfighters themselves, particularly the young matador Pedro Romero, are significant as they embody the qualities that the other characters admire and envy. Romero is depicted as pure, talented, and honorable—a sharp contrast to the aimlessness and moral ambiguity of Jake and his friends. Jake says,

Romero never made any contortions, always it was straight and pure and natural in line.

It highlights Romero’s pure and natural style, symbolizing the ideal of true masculinity that the other characters admire. Brett Ashley admires him and becomes infatuated (fascinated) with him. Romero remains true to himself in a world that seems to have lost its way.

Metaphor for Love and Destruction: However, the bullfight also has a darker significance. It represents the dangers and destructiveness of love and sex. The language used to describe the bullfights is often sexualized. The matador’s sword symbolizes a phallic (penis-like) object that ultimately kills the bull. This imagery mirrors the relationships in the novel, particularly Brett’s relationships with men. Just as the bullfight ends in death, Brett’s relationships are marked by pain and destruction.

The fickleness of the crowd’s affection for the matadors, as seen when they quickly shift their admiration from the aging matador Belmonte to the young Romero, reflects Brett’s own behavior as she moves from lover to lover.

In conclusion, bullfighting in “The Sun Also Rises” is a multifaceted symbol that reflects the characters’ struggles with the ideals of war, masculinity, and love. It serves as a reminder of the lost ideals of honor and bravery in a world shattered by the brutality of war.