In a way they can be compared to the "Lost Generation" in the contemporary novel "Fiesta- The Sun Also Rises" by Hemingway, a book with similar themes but an entirely different and more serious stance. The "Lost Generation," who are the equivalent of the "Bright Young Things," are portrayed as being almost entirely composed of alcoholics - for them drinking is a way of escaping reality and endure lives lacking both affection and purpose.
Though he depicts them in a lighter tone than Hemingway, it is clear that Waugh regards the "Bright Young Things" as being lost as well, which is why he sympathizes with them to an extent. He describes them as a generation betrayed by their ancestors who are not at fault for the horrors of the First World War but yet have to suffer their consequences. The presentation of the "Bright Young Things" as a group is also unclear; they appear distrustful of each other to an extent and unable to form close bonds. They are few in numbers and are vulnerable to dissolution from the outset ("How people are disappearing, Adam," remarks Nina in the later stages of the novel). This is perfectly exemplified by Adam and Nina's impersonal relationship - they seem to know almost entirely nothing about each other and yet they are on the point of marriage on several occasions. However, Waugh does not depict this lack of understanding and love as cynicism or exploitation; rather he portrays the Bright Young Thing's lack of emotional intelligence and sensitivity as a product of their wartime childhood and disillusionment with the older generation. In truth, the Bright Young Things yearn to love and to be loved and are only held back by their insecurity. The telephone call between Adam and Nina in Chapter 11, when Nina tells him that she is about to marry Ginger, is perhaps the most touching moment in the novel; Adam's quiet shock at the news and his powerful feeling of ostracization ("I don't want ever to see you again") reveals his and his generation's need for affection and companionship.