Forbidden love has been a common theme throughout centuries of literature, including such works as Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, and The Sun Also Rises. These pieces show that although love is a strong feeling, obstacles may stand in the way. Exemplified in The Sun Also Rises, Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley appear to have mutual feelings of love, yet it can not blossom due to reasons beyond their control.

WAR: “‘Oh Jake, we could have had such a damned good time together’” (Hemingway 251).

War can separate people in relationships, and test their limits. This can also be connected to modern day, where love is tested with soldiers going off to war on a daily basis.

LIFESTYLE DIFFERENCES: “‘Why don’t you get married, you two?...We want to lead our own lives…We have our careers’” (Hemingway 68).

Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley have lifestyle differences. Jake is a sarcastic journalist living in Paris. Lady Brett is flirty, having affairs with lots of men. These variations make it difficult for their love to blossom.

PHYSICAL INJURY: “‘Couldn’t we just live together? I don’t think so. I’d just tromper you with everybody. You couldn’t stand it’” (Hemingway 62).

Jake’s injury in the war does not allow for his relationship with Brett to strengthen and grow. Although the attraction is present, his love for her is not strong enough to keep her interest. Brett is afraid she would cheat on Jake.

VS. The Women Stature

GENDER STEREOTYPES: Jake and Lady Brett have another obstacle standing in their way of their love; gender stereotypes. As expatriates living in 1920’s Paris, Jake and Lady Brett need to conform to their stereotypes. Jake, a war veteran, has proved his masculinity but must keep up with that appearance. Lady Brett, a strikingly beautiful and flirty women must keep her appearance as well.

EXCESSIVE DRINKING: “‘She’s a drunk…’” (Hemingway 46).

Another barrier standing between a serious relationship for Jake and Brett is their excessive drinking problem. Lady Brett and Jake, as well as the other characters, drink to drown away their troubles, making it difficult to keep a lasting relationship.

Modern day, the same obstacles can be present in relationships across the country. These described in The Sun Also Rises have real life applications. Men leaving for war, drinking, and gender stereotypes can all be reasons for love not being successful, similar to what Jake and Lady Brett experienced in this novel.

-Emma

Picture Credits:

http://www-tc.pbs.org/thewar/images/inline_pics/landing_at_war_03.jpg

http://pro.corbis.com/images/IH015491.jpg?size=67&uid=%7B746DFD88-14EA-4A5E-BB2A-F0DD8F1E851C%7D

http://staff.rio.edu/miket/images/manlylogo.jpg

http://www.howellmovies.com/imagesTE/Image/ava_gardner/avagardner.jpg

http://pro.corbis.com/images/BE032476.jpg?size=67&uid=%7BD602D9CD-9472-4580-849B-F0AE6FBC608B%7D

http://naturity.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/iraq-war-426.jpg

http://z.about.com/d/gofrance/1/0/3/A/pariscafe3.jpg

http://www.gameo.org/images/female_symbol.jpg