... for Brett ultimately betrays his own desire to possess her himself. Pedro Romero represents the primary masculine figure in The Sun Also Rises. His bullfighting epitomizes masculinity because it requires the traditional characteristics of courage, strength, and honor. Montoya, owner of the hotel in Pamplona, acknowledges Pedro's manhood by simply nodding his head at Jake after watching Pedro's "perfect bull-fighting-(221). This unspoken understanding that Pedro "was a real one[man],"" exemplifies ... bullfighters because he is already close to the bull. Symbolically, this implies that P...

• Word Count: 2224
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... with Brett. Brett, who will always remain in her conquests' memories, is trying to forget herself in drink and meaningless sex. In spite of this, she can clearly and accurately visualize the improbability of any future with Jake. One of the main themes of The Sun Also Rises is impotence. Not only Jake's physical impotence, but also the powerlessness of the bull in the face of its imminent cruel death, the characters' barrenness of emotion and lack of sensitivity, their ineffectiveness, alcoholism, and failure ... of the station is dull, desolate, and barren; "it had no shade and no tree...

• Word Count: 2109
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School