Within the first reading of The Sun Also Rises, I found Hemingway's presentation of gender stereotypes and racial stereotypes to be interesting. Hemingway opens the book with a description of Cohn, focusing a great deal on Cohn's Jewish background. He describes the prejudices that Cohn faced growing up, and how this treatment shaped Cohn's life. During the book he also refers to a "nigger drummer" (69). Hemingway points out the stereotype, and in a way moves past the stereotype. The narrator, Jake, spends much time looking into the other aspects of Cohn's character, showing him as a well-rounded individual. Jake is astounded when Frances talks crudely to Cohn. He states that "there are people to whom you could not say insulting things" (56). Although Jake and Cohn's relationship is strained, it is clear that Jake looks highly upon Cohn. The drummer is displayed as being poorly educated, but Lady Brett refers to him as a friend.
I found Hemingway's avoidance of gender boundaries to be even more fascinating than his use of stereotypes. Hemingway displays Lady Brett as being a drunk, speaking her mind, and being rather flamboyant. She seems to enjoy being the center of attention, but on two occasions she chooses to leave a party early. She does not behave as a lady would be expected to behave. Her character also has a hint of mystery, as she appears to be cheerful, but states how she is miserable. Hemingway also tells us that Jake is injured. This injury has left him impotent, which strains his relationships. This seems to me a way of removing Jake from the masculine stereotype.
Hemingway has an intriguing way of introducing stereotypes, and then moving passed them.
Kristi, I would agree one hundred percent. I feel that when our narrator, Jake, is describing Robert Cohn, he is constantly stating the fact that he is Jewish. Jake not only informs readers that Cohn is Jewish, he also makes remarks in an almost insulting or prejudiced way. This stereotypical fact is evident when the text reads, "no one had made him race-conscious. No one had ever made him feel he was aJew, and hence any different from anybody else" (12) as well as "He had a hard, Jewish, stubborn streak" (18). I think that this says more about our narrators character more than anything and his views. Jake feels that people ARE different according to their Ethnicity and cultural backgrounds. It is hard to say so early in the novel if his is only a characters perspective of the world, or if it is Hemingway's point of view.
ReplyDelete-Brittany Kief
I agree with Brittany in that Hemingway is definitely very preoccupied with race more so than gender. It seems the narrator is more likely to comment on another character's background than to make platitudes about their gender.
ReplyDeleteI have been discussing the topic of gender in The Sun Also Rises, but I think race is definitely something that deserves to be mentioned. Hemingway's mention of the "nigger drummer" (Brett) and the "nigger boxer" (Cohn) are interesting. In each scene, Cohn and Brett are enthralled and excited by African Americans. I believe that they find them "exotic" and "wild."
ReplyDeleteBrett is friendly with the "nigger drummer," but I think she is nice to him because she likes to be "wild" and "dangerous."
That's interesting Kristen and I have to wonder if you aren't exactly right. To this point historically African American's were not regarded as people, only as property, so I am sure the race is exciting and unknown. Brett seems to be always looking for her next drink followed thereafter by her next adventure so I can see the connection. I am also very confused by gender roles, as Kristie said, with Brett being drunk all the time, but she also seems to be the one who starts the pursuit of the men in her many affairs and refers to herself regularly as a "chap". Most perplexing!
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