Disillusionment in the works by Hemingway - Research Paper Example

Unit: Disillusionment in the works by Hemingway: Themes are presented or con d in a literary work through different methods and stylistic devices. Through symbolism, for instance, an author can decide to bring to the attention of the readers some aspects that could not be directly decipherable within the text itself. Common stylistic devices can also be a connotation device employed by an author to depict themes (Davies, 42). While the net effect of the use of stylistic devices in literature is to beautify the language, the use of such devices by authors could be bent on an emphasis of an overall message or theme. As such the importance of stylistic devices is to connote the message that an author wants to deliver without the need to explicitly table the facts. Ernest Hemingway as an author also recognizes the use of stylistic devices in the presentation of his work. In fact right from the onset of his work, the title of ‘The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway, 1); it is symbolic in nature and illustrates an inner meaning that is only understood by non-Marxist interpretation of the text. From the plot and a brief look into the major thematic issues raised by Hemingway in this text, the main thematic concern can be derived as the sense of hopelessness and aimlessness. This sense is as a result of backgrounds portrayed in different characters. This sense of hopelessness and aimlessness brings the readers to a conclusion that in these perspectives, the authors intention was to voice disillusionment. The main topic of this paper there for can also be described by its thesis but significantly deals with the development of the theme Thesis: Ernest Hemingway uses several methods in connoting the theme of disillusionment in the story The Sun Also Rises This paper main makes observations on the intent of the author in depicting the disappointment that each character faces within the story that relates to war and social life (Becnel and Harold, 114). Discussion Disillusionment is a major theme depicted by the author of this text at several instances. More directly when Brett puts in her comment about the direction that their relationship their love with Jake would have taken, she is merely regretful (Hemingway, 247). This is a direct presentation of the characters disillusionment with the relationship that she has had so far. A connotation of the same would be observable in character or behavior of the same person. Within this story, there are several instances that the characters connote the theme of disillusionment within their behavior or personality. The two characters that is Bill and Jake display an enormous level of disillusionment in their character and personality. Much of these displays can only be read by an incisive look into the personalities that the two display. The reason for this kind of subtle display is based on the fact that the author wishes to present the disillusionment at a subtle level. The narrator at the beginning talks of the friend who has a stubborn girlfriend. The personas description can be read to mean that there is nothing good in life despite the level of input that one makes to life. The friend that is describing is a rich person, but the future of the person is not defined. Instead, the rich individual has a girlfriend who is difficult to deal with which signifies the absence of offspring to take care of the future let alone the future social life as a husband and wife. The narrator also does not let us into his private life. Much of this time, he talks about the life of another individual that is experiencing social difficulties (Hemingway, 7). This talk leads us to make a conclusion that the perceptions or the views of the narrator are skewed towards the negativity of what life has to offer. In fact at this stage the narrator does not give us his past but prefers to make a judgment that even other people have the same or common problems that he is facing in social life. The connotation of disillusionment comes at its peak in the reunion of the author and his friends that is Brett and the war veteran Bill. Together all these three individual embark on a journey that is to find solace in entertainment. The background that the author gives us about this persona is based on their experiences with World War 1 (Hemingway, 10). For Brett and Jake, the war is seen as their major discourse that led to their separation. While Jake felt it would be better to enlist, the effects of enlisting broke the relationship between them. Therefore despite the fact that Brett remained the love of his life, they still could not end up married as their discussion in the drinking place goes. The relationship between Jake and Bill during their encounter is also portrayed as a non-jovial encounter. For much of the time that the two find themselves together, the experience is never described as awesome or worth to remember. In fact while the whole team that includes Mike, Cohn, Brett, Bill and Jake are in Pamplona, only Brett gets a memorable moment by finding an exceptional character in Romero. The fishing trip and all other trips that Bill and Jake take together with an aim of unwinding all are not connoted by fond memories. In an ideal situation, a fishing trip in a foreign country would be adventurous and exciting. Their trips are only bent on the consumption of alcohol, fights, and unfulfilled passion (Berkin, 692). Symbolism is also used by this author to connote the theme of disillusionment in the text. The brief encounter between Jake and Brett at a drinking place and the subsequent discussion is symbolic. The two meet up after a long time and reminisce about their past. Brett despite being a mean person, she highlights the fact that the treatment for injuries sustained by Jake during world war would have made Jake impotent. Regret over lost time is eminent in their reunion. In the real sense, the author intends to signify that enlisting in the military service is not an opportunity as thought by the narrator. Instead, the signing up for this kind of service can deny an individual to live happily with their desired spouse as with the case of Jake. Secondly, the injuries sustained by Jake during world war might have made him impotent. The implication of impotence is that one cannot be able to sire any offspring. The future is grossly implied in this case. The lack of a lovely wife that rhymes with ones personality and the inability to have any kids is an indication that enlisting into battle is of no use or help to the person signing up. On return, the time spent at battle cannot be retrieved. The impact of war is such severe that no known scientific means can be used to reverse the situation. Such is the level of a symbolic (Hakola and Sari, 105) connotation of the impact of war on an individuals life that is suggested by the author. The connotation of a lasting impact is derived from the fact that there is no way the scar left by the war cannot be removed from the life of the persona. Through marriage, a person develops a family which is the basic social unit of life. Marriage is a sign of stability and future aspirations of an individual in that a person seeks to secure their posterity through children. Of the war veterans that we meet in this text, we are given the fact that one is now an accomplished journalist living in Paris. Little is given about the family life of the two veterans. This is symbolically connoting the level of discourse that the war has brought on them. The hopelessness of the individual veterans is seen in the way they manage their social lives. Merrymaking and social events to them cover a great part of their social life. This is evident on the number of trips they take and events that they engage in. Cohn even realizes that as the fiesta draws to a close, he needed to find a purpose for his life. He realizes that life has to proceed and leaves even before the end of the fiesta. For the veterans, only the end of the fiesta would get them to leave. This action points to the lack of focus or hints to the fact that the two are disillusioned with life. In conclusion, the theme of disillusionment is a major theme in the text. It is mainly presented through the stylistic device of symbolism and the character traits of some of the characters. Through the behavior of some f these characters, we can co notate the fact that there is a level of hollowness in their social life. The main motivation of what they speak and their interpersonal relationships all point out to the level of aimlessness that they experience as a result of their different backgrounds. In this book, the impact of a war is the main issue that backdrops the aimlessness and disillusionment experienced by the main characters. Works Cited Becnel, Kim, and Harold Bloom. Blooms How to Write About Ernest Hemingway. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2009. Print. Berkin, Carol. Making America: A History of the United States. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Print. Davies, Price A. Sula (MAXnotes Literature Guides) New Jersey: Research and Education Association, 1999. Print Hakola, Outi, and Sari Kivistö. Death in Literature. , 2014. Internet resource. Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York. Scribner, 1926. Print Read More