People often mentally distance themselves from their peers do to flaws and
irregularities that they may suffer from. In The Sun Also Rises Jake Barnes
constantly seems to be distanced and un willing to accept the people and
environment that he lives in. The impotence that Jake Barnes physically suffers
from leads him to suffer from mental impotence regarding the reality of his
actions and the environment in which he lives. Aside from Jakes own actions,
this impotence is reflected through supporting characters such as Brett and Cohn
by the authors’ use of the literary devices parody and irony. Jake Barnes is a
veteran ex-patriot of WWI living in Paris, France. During the war Jake received
a wound that led him into a life of physical impotence. While in a hospital Jake
met and fell in love with Lady Brett Ashley whom he desires throughout the
novel. Jake is the editor of a newspaper in France, yet his life circulates
around his journey to find meaning and acceptance into society. Jake is often
measuring the morals of others and trying to find an appropriate way to go about
his own life. Jake and the other characters, who suffer from similar mental
impotency for one reason or another, are often found to be drinking and seeking
sexual relations. Through these actions Jake is attempting to numb himself to
the reality that is the world he lives in yet does not understand. Jake goes to
bars and drinks so that he might escape from the turmoil his meaningless life
has become. Jake is often found to be making attempts to please Brett in any way
possible, through this he reveals that he is attempting to gain her acceptance
and affection but does not realize that many of these actions are only leading
her further from him. Jake feels unaccepted because that he cannot participate
in a ritualistic part of the lives that his peers exploit, sex. The use of
parody in The Sun Also Rises allows for the reader to relate the characters
different experiences to their impotence. I one of the first scenes Jake is
found riding in an horse drawn open air taxi with a prostitute whom he has
picked up to keep him company and give the appearance that he is promiscuous.
Just after this incident Jake is riding in an enclosed taxi with Brett
participating in an emotional struggle. The first scene is romantic and flagrant
with its appealing environmental descriptions and fancy carriage whereas in the
second scene the surroundings depict construction and a more dismal environment,
not at all romantic. This parody is relevant because that Jake did not want to
be exposed to the rest of the world when his body did not accept Brett, yet in
the carriage with the prostitute he was merely attempting to appear as if he
were a part of the sexual atmosphere that he lives in. Jake spends the entire
novel searching for the affection of Lady Brett, yet in many instances urges her
to go and be with other men. Through such irony it is revealed that Jake wants
more than anything to make Brett happy. When Jakes handicap does not allow him
to be with Brett he attempts to please her by finding others that can do so. By
doing so Jakes emotions are only damaged to a greater extent yet he sees it as
rational. Jake becomes jealous and angry after Cohn has an affair with Brett
because that he believes that Cohn is the only one in his circle of friends who
has not become disillusioned and daunted by society. The Sun Also Rises is the
story of Jake Barnes’ search for a way to go about living his life and find
acceptance. Throughout the novel the reader is allowed to see what is wrong with
his life and what he is doing wrong in his attempts to fix it. Jake does not
grasp that he has the ability to gain Brett’s acceptance without being her
sexual partner.