Subject: Hemmingway-The Sun Also Rises
In the novel The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, a reader is
forced to decide weather the spite that the Jake has for Chon
originates from Jake¹s racist background, or his deeply seeded
jealousy of Chon for having a brief affair with Brett. Even though it
is clear that Jake has racist views, the hatred he has for his former
friend Chon Chon is strictly based on the jealousy he feels towards
Chon for the weekend he spent with Brett.
Jake goes in to great detail about Chon¹s early life. He speaks
highly and admiringly of Chon, but in a condescending way. A reader
get her first hint on page one that Jake has some racist feelings
toward Chon. He speaks of how Chon's nose was flattened in a boxing
match and concluded the sentence with ³...and it certainly improved
his nose² (11). This can be taken as a reference to the stereotypical
³Jew² nose that is often associated with Jewish people. Jake and Chon
are close friends, and Jake likes him up to the point where he becomes
involved with Brett. Jake goes on and on about all of the
relationship mistakes in Chon¹s life. There is an hint of jealousy
that appears in Jake's tone. He states that women began to become
attracted to Chon as he got older, and that it ³changed him so that
he was not so pleasant to have around² (16). There is racism in
Jake¹s tone, but Jake¹s problem with Chon is is strictly one of
By this time Jake has already developed an extreme distaste for
Chon¹s endeavors with women, but these feelings their peak when Chon
and Lady Brett have a brief affair. Jake, having unconditional love
for Brett, blames the entire incident on Chon. In turn, Chon makes as
point to rub it in Jake¹s face. Jake says ³...it was giving him
pleasure to be able to talk with the understanding that I knew there
was something between them² (106). Jake has...