The Sun Also Rises Gender Identity

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Bonnie Lin AP Literature and Composition The Sun Also Rises Essay After World War I, European societal norms no longer stood in place and similarly, the typical gender roles no longer existed. Hemingway accurately depicted this social pattern in his book The Sun Also Rises with his character, Brett, as well as using setting, similes, and diction. When Hemingway first introduces Lady Brett Ashley, the setting is in a bar in Paris. Since the novel deals with a group of aimless expatriates who wander from place to place, from bar to bar, it would make sense that this scene is set in a bar. World War I had drastic impacts on European society. Before the war, the romanticized image of men was heroic, courageous, and strong. However, the violent warfare left these soldiers bracing themselves and huddling together in the trenches, feeling helpless. After the war, these soldiers were disillusioned by the war because their prewar values had become meaningless. This group, including both men and women, became known as the "Lost Generation". These people, represented by the characters of the novel, struggled to integrate themselves back into society, so they tried to escape their seemingly hopeless lives by following the philosophy that if you left where you were from, you left yourself. The traditionally accepted ideals of morality and gender roles were shattered, and the setting helps Hemingway achieve his purpose of expressing his statement on gender fluidity. Hemingway's use of similes throughout his book The Sun Also Rises is apparent and is used to convey his message about postwar situations. The narrator, Jake Barnes, states, "Brett was damned good-looking. She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed skirt, and her hair was brushed back like a boy's. She started all that. She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht, and you missed none of it

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