Post #3: Macho Matador

           Mentioned only briefly in the early chapters, bulls and bull fighting come to play a heavily symbolic role in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.  The main character, Jake Barnes, seems to idolize bullfighters, claiming, “ ‘nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters’ ” (18).  Jake’s captivation stems from his own injury which left him infertile and prone to having “a rotten habit of picturing the bedroom scenes of [his] friends” (21).  This injury spurred him to worship the animal that represents physicality, energy and freedom and the person who is able to tame it.  Barnes even admits to praying for “all the bull-fighters” confirming his dedication to the art (120).  Jake holds an adoring relationship with the bulls due to his impotence, but each character reacts to the bulls and bullfights in separate and distinct ways as well. 

Robert Cohn is often characterized by his inability to add meaningful conversation.  Barnes claims that he is a man who “never met any one of his class who remembered him” (11). Cohn’s contentedness to cling to Brett brings about conflict as Mike takes offense.  Jake spectates, “ ‘It’s no life being a steer,’ Robert Cohn said. ‘Don’t you think so?’ Mike said. ‘I would have thought you’d loved being a steer, Robert.’ ‘What do you mean, Mike?’ ‘They lead such a quiet life.  They never say anything and they’re always hanging about so’ ” (145-146).  With this in mind, it comes to no surprise that Cohn, a man described as having a “wonderful quality of bringing out the worst in anybody”, initially announces that he is “bored” with the bullfights and finds them too gruesome to enjoy (104, 165). 

Similarly to Barnes, Lady Brett Ashley is compelled by the pure power the bulls and bullfighters represent.  After watching the bullfighting prodigy Pedro Romero, she confesses to Jake, “ ‘I’m a goner.  I’m mad about the Romero boy.  I’m in love with him, I think’ ” (187).  Brett is obsessed with power and control (apparent by the amount of men she tromps with) yet she admires the dominance Romero is able to command.  Every action he takes is the epitome of a humble confidence rooted in power.  Jake notes on Pedro’s choice to smoke cigars, “[i]t was part of his system of authority… he was still very polite but he was surer of himself” (189). 

Each character’s reaction to bulls and bullfighting seems to reflect their morals and personalities, specifically relating to power and dominance.  Hemingway used the bulls as a symbol to communicate the apparent reversal of gender roles in the story thus far.  Barnes lives without the single most distinguishable item that identifies one as a man, so he compensates it by devoting time and passion to what he views as the most manly profession.  Cohn has always been described as shy and introverted so he could care less for the bulls, as long as he is with Brett.  Brett, on the other hand, is enthralled by the passion that the bullfighters possess and throws aside her old lovers for the new love that she believes will bring meaning into her unsatisfied love life.

In many ways, Brett occupies more masculine characteristics than any male in the story aside from Pedro Romero.  She acts independent of others, leading herself to where she wants to go and is not willing to settle down.  Lady Ashley challenges the masculinity of Barnes and Cohn by bending them to her will through the corruption of love.

(through page 203)