Jake Barnes as a Hemingway Hero - Essay Example

Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises was his first attempt at a serious novel. In this novel, Hemingway’s ideal of a hero is formed. Hemingway’s heroes are surrounded by acquaintances, the epitome of popularity, but are in essence alone in their own personal misery. Jake Barnes is the perfect example of a Hemingway hero. This hero is wounded physically and mentally during World War I. Jake Barnes’ struggle to overcome his misery, only to realize the futility, is the heart of this novel.

Jake Barnes was popular in his social circle. From Robert Cohn, the American-Jewish writer, to Barnes’ unrequited love interest Brett, all hold Barnes in their confidence. Cohn likes Barnes so much that he wants to travel to South America, then to the fiesta in Spain. Brett often turns to Barnes for advice. Brett expresses a wish to be with Barnes, if the circumstances were different. Outsiders looking at Jake Barnes’ life would think he had everything. An example would be when Georgette, a girl Barnes’ met one night, commented to him “You have nice friends” (Hemingway 27).

All of these friends did not help Barnes’ misery ebb. Barnes’ misery stems from a World War I wound. This wound has left Barnes impotent. The foremost pain in Barnes’ heart is Brett’s rejection of him based on his impotency. Barnes loves Brett. He would do anything for Brett. However the one thing he cannot provide, intimacy, is what she demands. Another facet of Barnes’ misery due to his impotency is his feelings of unmanliness. Since he cannot consummate any relationship physically, any relationship with Brett or any other woman is out of the question.

This depresses Barnes. Most men equate being a man with their sexual prowess. In Barnes’ life journey accepting his impotency and moving on is crucial. Through out this novel, Jake Barnes is searching for the meaning of life or happiness. At first Barnes thinks happiness would only be found by being with Brett. Upon her rejection, Barnes tries to simplify his life in order to find the meaning of life. He goes fishing with Cohn, and then they go onto the fiesta. Every time Barnes gathers his thoughts, or tries to leave Brett to her own devices, she draws him back in.

The futility of his life, of just living of being living with no meaning, can be summed up by Brett’s statement of the following “Oh, Jake . . . we could have had such a damned good time together” and Barnes reply of “Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?” (Hemingway 248) Barnes realizes that the meaning of his life is only an ideal that can never be reached. Jake Barnes is a Hemingway hero. He bumbles through the novel trying to find the meaning of life, while in love with a promiscuous woman that is unobtainable.

The concept of what he thinks will make him happy can be dreamed of in his mind, but cannot be achieved in his life. This understanding gave him a separate peace, by accepting what was an idea and what was reality. Work CitedHemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Scribner, 2006.