What is the significance of the title of “The Sun Also Rises?”

Answer

What is the significance of the title of “The Sun Also Rises?” [NU: 2019]

Or, Justify the title “The Sun Also Rises.” [NU: 2015, 22] ★★★

Ernest Hemingway’s (1899-1961) “The Sun Also Rises” (1926) is one of the most important novels about the “lost generation.” The title of the novel is taken from the Bible, the Book of Ecclesiastes. It means that even though one generation passes away, another one comes. The sun goes down but rises again. Hemingway’s title is perfect because the title suggests hope, renewal, and the struggle of people who feel broken after World War I.

Emptiness and Hope: The characters in the novel belong to the “lost generation” after World War I. They drink too much, travel from place to place, and try to forget the war. Their lives feel empty. But the title reminds us that emptiness is not the end. The sun rises again every day. This means there is still the possibility of renewal. But for Jake and his friends, this renewal is difficult to find. For example, Jake admits:

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

This shows that even though they travel a lot, they cannot escape their inner sadness. Yet, the sun rising each day shows that hope is still there.

Irony in the Title: The title suggests hope, but in the story, the characters often fail to find it. Jake loves Brett deeply, but he knows they can never be together because of his war injury. At the end of the novel, Brett says she wishes they could live together. Jake replies with the famous line:

“Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?”

This is Jake’s realization that his dreams with Brett will never come true. Here we see the irony. The title promises a rising sun, but Jake’s personal life remains dark. This irony makes the title even more powerful. Because it shows the gap between hope and reality for the