f his
             handicap and thus Jake is challenged as a man in the deepest, most
             personal sense possible. After the departure of their first meeting,
             Jake feels miserable: "This was Brett, that I had felt like crying
             about. Then I thought of her walking up the street and of course in a
             little while I felt like hell again" (34, Ch. 4). Lady Brett Ashley
             serves as a challenge to a weakness Jake must confront. Since his war
             experience, Jake has attempted to reshape the man he is and the first
             step in doing this is to accept his impotence.
             Despite Brett's undeniable love for Jake, she is engaged to marry
             another. Mike Campbell is Brett's fiancee, her next planned marriage
             after two already failed ones. Mike is ridiculously in love with Brett
             ...