Feminism and gender issues in the sun also rises by ernest hemingway

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BA RESEARCH
FEMINISM AND GENDER ISSUES IN “THE SUN
ALSO RISES” BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY
(GIỚI NỮ VÀ VẤN ĐỀ GIỚI TÍNH TRONG TÁC PHẨM
“MẶT TRỜI VẪN MỌC” CỦA NHÀ VĂN ERNEST
HEMINGWAY)

Student:
Student Code:
Major:
Supervisor:

Hanoi – 2021

HOANG NGOC MAI
621222
ENGLISH LINGUISTICS
NGUYEN THI THU THUY, PhD


CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled “
FEMINISM AND GENDER ISSUES IN “THE SUN ALSO RISES” BY ERNEST
HEMINGWAY” submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Bachelor in English Language. Except where the reference is indicated, no other
person’s work has been used without due acknowledgment in the text of the thesis.
Hanoi, 2021

Hoang Ngoc Mai

Approved by
SUPERVISOR

Date:……………………

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I would like to thank the teachers in the Faculty of Foreign Language
Education for teaching me during the past time, so that I have more professional
knowledge and the spirit of learning, creating a foundation of knowledge to help
me complete this BA thesis.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, who
gave me detailed comments and assessments, helping me to draw a lot of
experience to be able to successfully complete my thesis. Thank you very much for
your kind cooperation during this time helping me complete the BA thesis.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank my family and friends, who were
always there for me, encouraging and helping me through the most difficult time.

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ABSTRACT
Studying Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises shows how feminist and gender
issues in The Sun Also Rises are portrayed. Through descriptive methods, the

present study aims at clarifying how feminism and gender issues are revealed in
the feminist literature. The author provides an in-depth analysis of Lady Brett
Ashley's character through her appearance, personality, behavior, and sexual
behavior. Thereby, she points out the special points that are supposed to women's
rights at Victorian time. Besides, the author mentions gender issues in the work by
analyzing the main characters, specifically the barriers to express male lead
masculinity and focusing on innovations, tendencies masculinity and femininity,
and the relationship between masculinity and femininity. From there, indicating
role changes in the character's relationships.
Results of analysis and research on feminism and gender issues in the work
independently, from a feminist perspective, the female character becomes a new
type of female image that breaks the norms of Victorian women. The gender issues
in the work partly reflect the social reality at that time after the war. Thereby, it is
implied in the unique character building and feminist look in The Sun Also Rises.
This study provides learners with more material and new perspectives on female
characters in the works of author Ernest Hemingway in general and in The Sun
Also Rises in particular, and at the same time provides more knowledge on gender
and feminism.
KEYWORDS: feminism, feminist theories, The Sun Also Rises, gender issues

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List of abbreviation
TSAR- The Sun Also Rises

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................1
1.1. Rationale for the study .....................................................................................1
1.2. Aims and objectives of study ...........................................................................1
1.2.1. Aims of study............................................................................................1
1.2.2. Objectives of study ...................................................................................2
1.3. Research question ............................................................................................2
1.4. Scope of study .................................................................................................2
1.5. Significance of study ......................................................................................2
1.6. Design of study ................................................................................................2
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................4
Chapter 1 - LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................4
2.1. Review of the previous studies ........................................................................4
2.2. Review of theoretical background ...................................................................4
2.2.1. Feminism ...................................................................................................7
2.2.2. Gender........................................................................................................8
2.2.3. Iceberg Theory ...........................................................................................8
2.2.4. Literary devices .......................................................................................10
CHAPTER 2 – METHODOLOGY .........................................................................12
2.1. Research question ..........................................................................................12
2.2. Research methods ..........................................................................................12
2.3. An overview about the author, the work .......................................................12
2.4. Analytical framework ....................................................................................15
Chapter 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ...........................................................17
3.1. Feminism and the Lady Brett Ashley character format .................................17
3.1.1. Feminism .................................................................................................17
3.1.2. Lady Brett Ashley character format ........................................................18
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3.2. The downfall of male sexual dominance .......................................................24

3.2.1. barriers to self-expression ........................................................................25
3.2.2. Pedro Romero – the standard of masculinity ..........................................31
3.2.3. Masculine and Feminine tendencies ........................................................31
3.3. Relationship between masculinity and femininity.........................................33
PART 3: CONCLUSION ........................................................................................36
1. Recapitulation ...................................................................................................36
2. Limitation of study...........................................................................................36
3. Recommendations for further study .................................................................37
REFERENCES: .......................................................................................................38

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PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Rationale for the study
Ernest Hemingway (1988-1961) is the great writer of humanity in the twentieth
century. He gives readers strong impressions both in literature and in his life. He
always has his own ways to reflect on his writing page the diversity of life,
conveying the urgent problems of life into his work. Ernest Hemingway’s works
are considered classics of American literature nowadays.
In my opinion, literature reflects the current social situation. This statement is
completely correct in “The Sun Also Rises” because of the truthfulness of social
reality that the work reflects the period of the 1920s after World War I. One of the
classics representing "Lost generation", who came of age during World War I
(1914-1918), the novel not only reflects the dark side of the war but also shows a
changing gender reality. Many literary critics comment that “a world of men
without women” in the works of E. Hemingway and they also say that E.
Hemingway has aversion to women.
Expanding the topic, I wish to bring a more complete view of gender issues in the
work “The Sun Also Rises”, to point out the feminist perspective in the novel.

In this thesis, the concept of "feminism" is minimally limited to "feminist literary
criticism", representing different aspects of female characters in Ernest
Hemingway's works, female characters - an expression of feminist voice. At the
same time, I choose to analyze gender issues in the work, in particular, masculine
and feminine tendencies, and barriers to personal expression.
1.2. Aims and objectives of the study
1.2.1. Aims of the study
The aim of the study is to investigate how feminism and gender issues are realized
in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.

1


1.2.2. Objectives of the study
Objectives of the study are:
- Investigating how feminism was realized in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest
Hemingway in terms of feminist literary criticism/theory.
- Analyzing the manifestations of gender issues in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest
Hemingway.
1.3. Research questions
The study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. How is feminism expressed in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway in
terms of feminist literary criticism/theory?
2. What are the manifestations of gender issues in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest
Hemingway?
1.4. Scope of the study
The study focuses on analyzing and clarifying the gender issues that appear in the
novel and analyzing more specifically about changing sex trends (masculine
/feminine tendencies), and barriers to personal expression.
Besides, I analyze the stereotype of Victorian women, women in the 1920s, to

explain the woman's characteristics. The linguistic source for this study was chosen
from "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway.
1.5. Significance of the study
This study provides learners of American literature point of view towards gender
issues in Hemingway's novels and provides more knowledge about gender at the
same time.
1.6. Design of the study
Apart from abstracts, references, and appendices, the study consists of three main
parts:

2


PART 1 – INTRODUCTION presents the rationale of the study, aims, and
objectives of the study, research questions, the scope as well as the significance of
the study.
PART 2 – DEVELOPMENT is divided into 3 chapters:
Chapter 1 - LITERATURE REVIEW provides the theoretical background for
the study including the definition of feminism, feminist theory, gender, gender
role, gender identity.
Chapter 2 – METHODOLOGY describes the methodology used in the research
including the research methodology, data collection instruments, data analysis.
Chapter 3 - FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS reports and discusses the findings
of the study.
PART 3 – CONCLUSION summarizes the main issues that have been addressed
in the study, points out the limitations, draws pedagogical implications concerning
the research topic, and suggests several solutions.

3

PART 2: DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 1 - LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Review of the previous studies
Some Vietnamese authors such as Le Dinh Cuc (1999) in "Tiểu thuyết của
Hemingway", had direct comments on the feminine characters in Hemingway's
works. Le Dinh Duc (1999) thinks that “It is strange that this famous writer, one
amongst the writers who successfully built love stories that captivated people,
never built an entire female character in terms of art. Farewell to the weapon that
individuals call "Romeo and Juliet" but Catherine isn't a female character with a
separate identity and personality but a romantic and idealized character of the
author”. The feminine characters in Hemingway's novels are either at one pole
or the opposite of the personality. One type that he loved and raved about was the
attractive, gentle, high-spirited women. One type is stubborn girls who, in part, as a
"female", always torment the "male". It is Brett’s character in The Sun Also Rises.
Hemingway's

second

type

female

character

is

curt,

brusque,

even wearing ridiculous, grotesque manners. Hemingway was very uncomfortable
with girls from hairpins to gongs that were all made from iron. Among
Hemingway's female characters, perhaps only Pilar is best. She is sharp, sharp, but
outspoken, intelligent, and from time to time very tactful and graceful. Through the
feminine characters of Hemingway, we can easily see the shadow and also
the character of real-life Hemingway in it.”
He discussed symbolism within the novel. Le Dinh Cuc cited the woman's hair in
Hemingway's work united of the important images with symbolic meaning:
"Hemingway developed the spirit of symbolism in another topic. it is a woman's
hair. This subject haunts him all told three war novels. Her hair (The Sun Still
Rises), Catherine's hair (Farewell to Weapons), Maria's hair (To whom the bells
4


go). The hair symbolizes the mistress: gentle, graceful, seductive, so he
pays plenty of attention to the hair. Praise Catherina's long hair or let Brett cut her
hair short with the identical intention praise the mistress”.
In the book “Ernest Hemingway – Núi Băng và Hiệp sĩ'' (1999), Le Huy Bac
continues to generalize this content: “From Catherine's silky jet-black hair to
Maria's cropped hair, to the girl's desire for long hair within the Cat within the Rain
and Brett's short haircut, it all has its own meaning opinion of an expert who
commented on Hemingway…” (197). During this book, Le Huy Bac has
remarkable findings of female characters in Hemingway's work, specifically his
mention of female characters' hair. However, thanks to the author's purpose of
studyingthe"central character", the image of the feminine character isn't recognized
independently and systematically but only mentioned as a subtitle to investigate the
male protagonist.
Discussing the symbolic meaning through the feminine figure in Hemingway's
work, within the master's thesis "Death within the short story" author, author

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha considers the feminine character one representative image
for death: “The image of a girl also represents death within the eyes of the
author. the looks of the girl also evokes death for the characters” (29).
“Hemingway: a group of Critical Essays” (1962) compiled by Robert P. Weeks.
“Men without Women” by Leslie Fiedler and '' The Death of affection within
the Sun Also Rises” by Mark Spilka, the authors mentioned a number of the
characteristics that build the feminine character Brett within the Sun Also Rises.
Explaining the way to represent the feminine character through the image of Brett
character within the Sun Still Rises, Leslie Fieder commented: "Hemingway is
incredibly comfortable when it involves managing the matter of men without
5


women, like the link between father and son. , friendship, gangsters…”(86). The
article directly assesses the feminine character in Hemingway's work: "For
Hemingway, women are mostly soft, dependent, born to keep up the race" (87).
The author mentions two styles of women: American, British in Hemingway's
work: "When the ladies are American, they live a lewd life, don't have any faith...
British women don't seem to be perfect. all blatantly…” (89). Both Leslie Fieder
and Mark Spilka make notable comments about the character Brett, the
primary and only central female character in Hemingway's novel. Leslie Fiedler
commented on a style of Brett's "wound": "Brett never became a girl within
the true sense of the word... she didn't become a lady irrespective of how hard she
tried" (89). Mark Spilka writes: “Brett has the characteristics of a person. Drinking
alcohol and having sex indiscriminately” (130). The ladies within the eyes of Mark
Spilka and Leslie Feilder are both victims.

Contrary to the views of Mark Spilka and Leslie Feilder. Robert O. Stephens
(1977) in "Ernest Hemingway: Critical Reception”. He had conflicting opinions
about the character within the Sun Rises. For instance when discussing

Hemingway's character building and also the author's influence on the character
within the work. Brett is taken into account as a nymphomaniac, Robert Cohn may
be a swashbuckler, helpless Jake to not mention extreme, we just want to mention
that this statement provides an extra perspective on Brett.

Through some studies on female characters in Hemingway's works mentioned
above, it will be seen that this is often a subject of interest to several domestic and
foreign researchers. However, it's not been studied independently and individually,
but

most

of it's only

contents like plot,

been

dialogue,

reviewed
central
6

in

other

character...

Hemingway
The

study

research
of the


feminine characters in Hemingway's work from the attitude of feminist theory is
sort of absent from domestic studies. Abroad, the appliance of feminist theory.
Hemingway's argument for studying female characters isn't exactly clear either.
Thereby, it is seen that the feminine characters are still not seen in an
exceedingly positive way. That's why I chose this subject to be ready to bring an
objective view, explain a number of the characteristics of the feminine character in
addition because the method of character building in Hemingway's work.
2.2. Review of theoretical background
2.2.1. Feminism
According to Kathy Caprino, feminism is defined as advocating for women's rights
on the idea of gender equality. (including social, economic, and political equality).
In The Second Sex, published in 1947, Simon analyzed aspects of oppressed
women and asked to further promote the struggle for women's liberation. Beauvoir
argues that "the fundamental source of women's oppression is its (femininity's)
historical and social construction because the quintessential". Citing the longstanding dominance of patriarchal culture, Beauvoir strongly criticizes that a maledominated culture has marginalized women furthermore as in literature and
therefore the arts. In that culture, men are synonymous with humanity, identical
with

history, and

ladies are

considered

"Others",

always in

an

exceedingly subordinate position, must depend upon men to make your mind up.
The Second Sex is taken into account to possess pushed the women's lib to a
replacement stage, causing the globe to require a candid have a look at the role of
ladies and affirm it.
Brett is a character who is also liberated in her philosophy. She thinks for herself.
Witty, caustic, strong-minded, and independent she is a heroine who helped to
widen societal definitions of womanhood in this culture.
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Feminist theory, based on different uses, these concepts can have a broad and
narrow connotation. This is a concept that deals with the most general
philosophical and cultural issues of gender inequality and the struggle against
gender, demanding equality between women and men, and set standards for
women in life. Related to this concept, there are the following terms:
A Feminist could be one that supports the assumption that girls should have the
identical rights and opportunities as men.
Feminist criticism is an element of feminism employed in narrower. Feminist
criticism is an element of feminism employed in narrower. Feminist criticism is
concerned with "the ways in which literature reinforces or undermines the
economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women". (Tyson 83)

2.2.2. Gender
If we are look up the definition of “gender” in the dictionary, we'll see these
statements: Gender is one among the 2 sexes (male and female), especially when
considering social and cultural differences instead of biological ones. The term is
additionally used

more

broadly

to

denote a

spread of

identities

that don't correspond to established ideas of male and feminine.
Gender roles are the sets of socially expected behaviors in men and girls associated
with characteristics and competencies that society considers to be male or female
(boy or girl) during a particular society or culture.
Gender issues within the work: masculine and female tendencies and barriers to the
individual expression of character.
According to Alters, Sandra; Schiff, Wendy (2009), a role, also referred to as a sex
role, could be a social role encompassing a variety of behaviors and attitudes that
are

generally

considered

acceptable,

appropriate,

or

individual supported that person's biological or perceived sex.
8

desirable

for an


The traits described for typical masculine behavior are assertive, aggressive,
logical, pragmatic, competitive, and non-emotional touch. Traits commonly related
to women are: passive, caring, emotional, and emotional.
2.2.3. Iceberg Theory
In the 1958 Paris Review Interview, Hemingway once said: “If it's any use to
grasp it, I always try and write of the principle of the iceberg. There are seveneights of it underwater for each part that shows. If a writer omits something
because he doesn't comprehend it then there's a hole within the story.”
Hemingway's iceberg principle relies on a natural phenomenon. When an iceberg
floats on the ocean surface, just one part is above the water, the opposite seven are
submerged. The writer's intention when using this principle is when the
author thoroughly understands all the problems that he wants to specific, remove
all unnecessary details, keeps only the core parts, and arranges them
accordingly. so that when exposed to that, readers can still understand what the

author missed, not within the text. It was Hemingway who said of a feature of his
creative personality that he preferred to use a comparatively small prose form that
contained great phenomena and problems in human and social life.
On Hemingway’s iceberg theory with succinct and direct writing, the sensation and
thoughts of the author himself are hidden within the image to the most
important extent. On account of this, the sensibility and perceptibility of literature
are combined skillfully, leaving the readers to explore the emotion and thought of
the run through the sensation of those distinct images. Concise words, particular
pictures, copious feeling, and significant ideas are the four central components of
the icy mass hypothesis for additional examination, that is, the words and pictures
are the purported "one-eight" while the feeling and thought are the supposed
"seven-eight". The formers are specific and visual while the latter is implied within

9


the former. The words portray the images; the emotion is embodied within
the images; the thought is embodied within the emotion.
Hemingway does not tell the reader about how the characters in his stories feel or
think. He lets the reader develop his ideas about the background or intentions of
the characters and wanted the reader to fill the creative void. His primary aim was
to arouse the reader’s own emotions, deeply involve him within the experience
created for him and thereby enable him to find the important thing.
2.2.4. Literary devices
Although Hemingway's writing style may be succinct, this does not mean that he
sacrifices the literary device of his novels. The Sun Also Rises is filled with these
literary devices. Hemingway uses these to improve his writing and make it more
Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express ideas and improve their
writing ability. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text, reinforce a
story, and help readers connect with characters and themes.

In my opinion, it is not difficult to see that in The Sun Also Rises. Some literary
devices can be named as simile, symbolism, imagery.
Symbolism bullfighting is probably the most obvious symbol in the entire novel.
As mentioned, the bullfighting in Pamplona, Spain represents how Jake Barnes and
his friends are like the bulls and quarrel with each other over Lady Brett Ashley.
The Sun Also Rises is bursting with imagery. In each new setting, Hemingway
takes the time to vividly explain each place. The reader can picture the
surroundings with the help of his descriptions. Also, the description of peaceful
places like Burguete is much more colorful as opposed to how Paris is described.
Hemingway uses phrases like “greenfields” and “red-tiled roofs” to paint an
accurate picture of what the characters see around them. Most of the descriptions
include colors of some sort to enhance the depiction of the scene. What makes this

10


story so great is how beautifully the cities are described that it makes you feel as if
you are there next to the characters.
Hemingway also compared it very skillfully when describing the outstanding
appearance of the female character Lady Brett Ashley: "her hair was combed back
like a boy".

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CHAPTER 2 – METHODOLOGY
2.1. Research question
How is feminism expressed in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway in
terms of feminist literary criticism/theory?
What are the manifestations of gender issues in The Sun Also Rises by Ernest

Hemingway?
2.2. Research methods
To clarify the objective of the thesis, the study is carried out according to the
following methods:
The qualitative research method involves collecting and analyzing nonnumerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or
experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate
new ideas for research.
Descriptive method: describing details, the image of the woman built by the
author in the historical context of the work.
Analytical method: analyzing details, the image of the woman built by the
author in the historical context of the work.
The Iceberg Theory is the writing style of American writer Ernest Hemingway.
Influenced by his journalistic career, Hemingway contended that by omitting
superfluous and extraneous matter, writing becomes more interesting. focusing on
surface elements without explicitly discussing underlying themes
2.3. An overview about the author, the work
About author
Ernest Hemingway, in full Ernest Miller Hemingway, born July 21, 1899, Cicero
(now in Oak Park), Illinois, U.S, Earnest Hemingway is admittedly one of the most
outstanding American writers of the twentieth century. He is an American novelist,
short story writer, and journalist, and sportsman. He was one of the veterans of
12


World War I, later known as the "Lost Generation". In a sense, the wound of war
has affected him and his writings.
Iceberg theory is a special feature in Hemingway's office. It is described by
addition and accumulation and has an important influence on the development of
twentieth-century literature. The central figures of his work are stoicism (stoicism accept adversity). Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s
and the mid-1950s, his first published book is Three stories and ten poems (1923).

In the same year, Hemingway published his first novel The sun also rises. He was
awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature. Many of his works are now considered
classics of American literature as Men without women (Short Stories, 1927), A
farewell to arms (Novel), For whom the bell tolls (Novel, 1940), The old man and
the sea (Novel, 1952), etc. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
About the work
"The Sun Also Rises" is possibly a 1926 novel composed by the renowned
American creator Hemingway. The epic's primary topic is that of the "Lost
Generation" or the age of young fellows that supposedly was permanently harmed
by war I and Hemingway's statement that they weren't just about as wanton and
licentious as was ordinarily suspected. The characters are upheld by genuine
individuals in Hemingway's circle, the activity depends on genuine occasions,
especially Hemingway's life in Paris inside the 1920s.
The Sun Also Rises follows a gaggle of young American and British expatriates as
they wander through Europe within the mid-1920s. they're all members of the
cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation, who came old during the war I (1914–
18). Two of the novel's principal characters, Lady Brett Ashley and Jake Barnes,
epitomize the Lost Generation. Jake, the novel's storyteller, perhaps a writer and
war I veteran. During the conflict, Jake experienced a physical issue that delivered
13


him weak. After the conflict, Jake moved to Paris, where he lives close to his
companion, the Jewish creator Robert Cohn.
Jake’s former lover, Brett, also lives in Paris. Jake and Brett met and fell infatuated
during the war, when Brett, a volunteer nurse, helped treat Jake’s injuries. Even
though it's not said expressly, it's inferred that they're not together because Jake is
barren and Brett is reluctant to present sex. At the point when Cohn admits his
heartfelt interest in Brett to Jake, Jake alerts him against seeking after a

relationship with Brett, who is betrothed to Mike Campbell, a Scottish veteran.
Half a month after their takeoff, the creator Bill Gorton (another of Jake's
companions) shows up in Paris. Together, Jake and Bill focus on visiting Spain to
go to the Fiesta in Pamplona, Spain, to work out the running of the bulls and
consequently the bullfights. Before they leave, Jake and Bill run into Brett, who
has as of late got back from Spain, and her partner, Mike. Brett and Mike request
to go with Jake and Bill to Pamplona. Brett uncovers to Jake that she spent two or
three weeks in Spain with Cohn.
Bill and Jake take a train toward the south of France, where they meet Cohn. Bill,
Jake, and Cohn head out together to Pamplona, where they're at last joined by Brett
and Mike. They stay in a hotel with an individual named Montoya. Montoya could
be a bullfighting aficionado, and he's needing to acquaint outsiders with the game.
Brett and Jake are particularly charmed by the bullfights, and Brett is also
enamored by a 19-year-old matador named Pedro Romero. While Mike, Cohn,
and, as it turns out, Jake fight over Brett, Brett runs off to Madrid with Romero.
After the celebration closes, Jake, Mike, and Bill leave Pamplona. After an evening
in the south of France, Jake chooses to get back to Spain. He before long gets a
message from Brett for help in Madrid. Jake quickly goes to Madrid, where he
discovers that Brett sent Romero away because of a paranoid fear of defiling him.
The tale closes with Jake and Brett talking in a taxi in Madrid.
14


Lost Generation
However rarely referenced, World War I drapes like a shadow over the characters
in The Sun Also Rises. The conflict crushed Europe, cleaning away domains and
long-standing governments. Additionally, its severe close-quarter's conflict and
machine-driven killing clarified to the entirety of its members that the longstanding standards of honor, boldness, and apathy were empty and trivial, similar
to the public characters that drove the nations of Europe to battle in any case. So,
the conflict changed every one of the individuals who experienced it, and the

individuals who grew up during the conflict became known as "the lost
generation". Through Jake and his companions and associates, The Sun Also Rises
portrays individuals from this.
Jake and his companions have faith in practically nothing. While here and there
this is freeing, it is additionally portrayed as a misfortune. In losing their
confidence in the standards, designs, and patriotism that drove self-character in the
time before WWI, they appear to have lost some center of themselves. The
characters are consistently fretful, continually meandering, searching for a steady
difference in view as though searching for a getaway. They would like to live in
America than Europe, yet for reasons unknown, they don't leave. The characters
have made themselves ostracized, disengaged from their home, examining the way
of life of Europe while never going along with them. There is a feeling that Jake
and his age don't have a place anyplace. However a significant number of Jake's
companions have occupations, recorded as a hard copy and altering, these positions
don't appear to have standard hours and none of them are responsible to any chief
or area. The characters invest their energy in mingling, drinking, moving, and
messing around. However these exercises are typically seen as energetic pursuits,
in such perpetual reiteration they become unfilled and wearying, and part of an
endless loop in which the characters are continually thinking about the following
15


break. Of the relative multitude of characters, just Cohn appears to not fit this
portrayal of a lost age. He has a character constrained on him: he's Jewish. Also, he
has standards heartfelt, maybe senseless beliefs yet at the same time goals. It's
anything but an occurrence that he is the lone male person in the novel not to have
encountered the conflict direct. However, throughout for the novel, even Cohn
deceives his standards, proposing that while the deficiency of faith in the old
frameworks is an awful close-to-home misfortune, it additionally quite possibly a
more exact perspective on the world.

2.4. Analytical framework
In this study, the main characters analyzed were Jake Baner and Lady Brett
Ashley. Feminism and gender issues will be portrayed through the female
characters' personalities, appearance, and behaviors and the two characters' unusual
relationships.
The gender issues analyzed in this essay are the tendency to masculinity and
femininity through the image of the female character Lady Brett Ashley, and the
barriers to personal expression through analyzing the contradictions in actions and
behaviors of inner male characters.

16


Chapter 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
The book The Sun Also Rises is Hemingway’s classics of American literature,
which makes him become one of the most famous voices of the “Lost Generation”.
In terms of the reasons for the novel's enduring success, the main highlight of the
work is the author's portrayal of the personalities of each character, which seems
complicated and controversial.
Although The Sun's revolutionary style has also attracted the attention of scholars
and critics, the novel's deepest and most important concern begins with its
treatment of Hemingway's character theory. , through characters such as Jake
Barnes, Robert Cohn, and Lady Brett Ashley, Hemingway was able to portray the
dynamics of World War I. The themes Hemingway explores in The Sun Also Rises
(e.g., masculinity issues, the aftermath of war, the aimless lives of post-war youth,
the rise of modern women, or the decline of Victorian values) raises questions of
identity, challenges common definitions of men and women.
3.1. Feminism Lady Brett Ashley character analysis
3.1.1. Feminism
Feminism understood in the most basic way is "Women's equal rights in all fields

of economy, society, education...". Researchers often agree that if understood at a
broad level, the concept of feminism is the rights of women put in relation to the
interests of men to achieve the so-called equality of men and women. At a narrow
level, feminism is related to concepts such as gender and sex in literature.
If gender and sex are fundamental terms to distinguish the love between the two
sexes (male and female), then the concept of feminism aims to be the equality of
men and women, and at the same time creates its own set of standards and affirms
female characteristics.
Feminism is the result of the movement for equal rights for women, one of the
longest and most widespread movements in human history. An important
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milestone confirming the birth of feminism is the modern bourgeois revolutionary
movements. Attached to it are the movements of women demanding the same
rights and benefits as men, such as the right to vote, the right to freely practice, the
right to receive the same salary as men with the same salary in a job, the right to
protect.
In The Second Sex published in 1947, Simon analyzed aspects of oppressed
women and asked to further promote the struggle for women's liberation. Beauvoir
argues that "the fundamental source of the oppression of women in the historical
and social construction (of women) as quintessence". Citing the long-held
dominance of a patriarchal culture, Beauvoir strongly criticizes that a culture of
masculinity has marginalized women as well as in literature and the arts. In that
culture, men are synonymous with humanity, identical with history, and women
are considered "Other", always in a subordinate position, having to rely on men to
decide. The Second Sex is considered to have pushed the feminist movement to a
new stage, making the world have to take a candid look at the role of women and
affirm it.
Coming from social movements, associated with changes in society (in terms of

awareness, institutions, countries, ethnicities...), issues related to women's rights,
therefore, always have changed. . Perhaps the most relevant aspect of feminist
theory to consider Hemingway's female character is the aspect that carries the
original feminism - Women's Rights.
3.1.2. Lady Brett Ashley character
Brett is the first and only female central character in Hemingway's novels.
Therefore, this is the object of interest to many scholars when studying the
characters in his works. Brett's portrait in the novel functions as a representation of
"a new woman". The most important of the major traits is the blend of femininity

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