Insecurity in The Sun Also Rises
The theme of male insecurity is a prominent theme in Ernest Hemingway'snovel, The Sun Also Rises. While many soldiers suffered fromdisillusionment with the Great War and how it was supposed to make men ofthem, Jake bore the additional burden of insecurity because of his warwound. Insecurity operates on several levels and surfaces in many waysthrough the characters we encounter in this novel. We learn from observingJake and his friends that manhood and insecurity are linked sometimesunfairly. Despite his insecurity and inability to "perform" as a man, Jakeproves to more of a man than any other characters in the novel. The disillusionment of the war caused many who fought to feel lostbecause they no longer held onto traditional American beliefs about war andfighting. Edgar Johnson notes that the brave fought in the war but "theynever understood" (Johnson 88). Jake, more than any of his friends, hassuffered the worst injury of the war--one with which he strugglesthroughout the entire course of the novel. This struggle makes Jake themost complex character of the novel. In fact, his struggle and insecuritycause us to reconsider the definition of manhood. Robert Penn Warren claims that the
Nothing makes him feel better about it and most of his thoughtslead him back to Brett, which only depresses him. Jake is undoubtedly insecure but what we come to realize is that heis not less of a man because of it. I was thinking about Brett and my mind stopped jumping around and started to go in sort of smooth waves. Wilentz maintains that when Brett goes off with Cohn, it is "the last blow"(150) to Jake's wounded manhood. We do know that Jake cannot let go of the idea of trying atleast something with her. In addition to this, Gay Wilentz notes, asmany other critics do, that Jake's war wound "represents not only thehorrors of the great war but also the notions surrounding what makes a man"(Wilentz 150). However, it does hinder him and sometimes preoccupy his mind attimes. Whilethis statement is true, Mike is displaying his insecurity by attackingCohn. It is with this attitudethat Hemingway created Jake. She points out that even while Jake insults himand talks about him behind his back, Cohn still considers him his bestfriend. Manhood and security are often associated with imagesof virility. Jake's feelings toward Cohn representhis insecurity. She maintains, "Jake is a man in spite of or because of hisimpotence" (150).
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