The Sun Also Rises Take Home Test — страница 2

Pedro Romero in Pomplona, he really feels down-his guilt eats at him. Jake tortures himself inside for his betrayal. His self-discipline helps him to not fail again. Jake does lose himself by “…preferring illusion to reality…and self deceit to self-honesty.” Jake has the unfortunate characteristic of being impotent. Nonetheless, he greatly wants to have Brett Ashley, his nymphomaniac friend, as his mate. Though he knows they can never consummate a relationship, Jake still wishes to do so. This romantic imagery deceives his usually realistic views. As mentioned before, Jake betrays his friends in Pomplona. He finds Montoya and Romero-a hotel owner-friend and a young matador, respectively-at Montoya’s hotel. Montoya knows Jake’s companions and asks him to keep them and

their influences away from Romero. However, when Brett wants Romero, Jake takes her to him. Jake betrays Montoya, Brett, and Romero with the mistake. More importantly, though, Jake loses himself through his self deception. 4. Discuss the fact that the bullfighter Pedro Romero is considered by the critics to be the embodiment of Hemingway’s “code hero.” Pedro Romero, the young matador of Pomplona, fits the seven characteristics of Hemingway’s “code hero.” Romero never talks about his beliefs, never makes broad generalizations, and never reveals that he follows a code; he is a man of action, whose gratifying actions are emphasized, and whose idea of death, which must be avoided at all costs, lies behind all other thoughts. Pedro Romero’s code prevents him from doing

three things. First, the “code hero” never talks about what he believes in; the reader must infer his philosophy. Nowhere in the novel does Romero say anything about his religion, his profession, or his thoughts. He needs no philosophy-his code is his philosophy: how he acts, how he feels, how he lives. Second, Romero never makes broad generalizations. The code keeps Romero in a positive state of mind. His open-mindedness constantly gives him hope. When his friend, Jake, introduces many slack companions, Romero is able to see that they are not all bad. Third, Romero never reveals the existence of a code. The hero keeps his precious code sacred. The code keeps Romero confidant and strong. The code is Romero’s self preservation. Actions, especially self-gratifying actions,

characterize Pedro Romero. Romero prefers actions to thinking. To Romero, thinking delays the inevitable: actions. Romero could not be successful if he thought before he acted in the dusty bullring. A stray thought could easily freeze him for a moment-just long enough for a horn to slip by his guard. Hemingway emphasizes the actions that bring pleasure to Romero. Romero sleeps with Brett, a nymphomaniactic friend of Jake’s, and Hemingway proudly emphasizes this. The bullfight that earns Romero the celebration is the most accentuated part of the novel. The idea of death, seen as total closure to Romero, lies behind all other actions and must be avoided at all cost. To Romero, life’s actions are much more important than worrying about death. His fearless occupation and his

attitude toward the dead show us he rarely considers death. Nonetheless, Romero’s whole life is spent avoiding death. He avoids death with every rush of the bulls he battles. He must show calm under pressure-he has complete self-discipline, because of his code. 6 6 Grier