Post-War Limbo

"You are all a lost generation"

- Gertrude Stein

    It can be inferred that Gertrude Stein is talking about the generation most affected by World War 1. But how did Hemingway, who was one of this generation, interpret this quote in The Sun Also Rises?

    The novel starts with a very sarcastic summary of Robert Cohn's life. What's interesting about this is that Robert is the only (main) character that was not directly harmed by the war. Jake and his friends seem to have plenty of criticisms of Robert, but generally allow him to tag along. As discussed in class, the use and non use of irony and sarcasm could represent a sense of dark humor developed from the war. Robert not only lacks in the other's humor, but he has a frustrating sort of blind hope. His extended pursuit of Brett seems to anger the others. A theory that I have slightly developed is the post-war limbo. The other main characters all lost something in the war and are not shown to be boding well. For example, Brett lost her husband and is constantly trying to fill the hole he left behind, Mike Campbell uses alcohol to distract himself. Cohn's aspirations to be with Brett represent characteristics that they have lost, evoking bitterness. These characters are caught in a state of numbness, always returning to the comfort of distractions.

    In the final scene, Brett and Jake meet in a cab, reflecting our first introduction to them. This parallel emphasizes the sense that nothing has really changed. Despite their eventful journey through Spain, they feel they have no choice to return to their previous way of life. Brett will never be content with Jake and Jake will always love Brett. 

    It is interesting to note that Hemingway later included Gertrude Stein's quote to contrast the excerpt from Ecclesiastes. The introduction reveals that Hemingway ultimately criticized Stein's generalization, after living through experiences that proved her wrong. Although The Sun Also Rises could be interpreted as pessimistic, there is also a vision of hope that is portrayed through Jake's adventures in Spain and the lasting bonds with his friends.

Investigating The Stranger

   

        By the end of the first chapter from, The Stranger by Albert Camus, I was left hooked. Reading this book felt like gliding through the events of Meursault's life along with him. But this strange almost "dreamlike" state that he lives in, raises so many questions. The biggest being what is this dude's problem?

    First, I would like to lay out some interesting evidence from the first few chapters of the book. On first glance, it might seem that Monsieur Meursault is simply a clueless, emotionless vessel with no self-awareness*. Actually, that would be pretty accurate, until you notice the subtlest hints of human sentiment. Our first encounter with this is his possible guilt surrounding the death of his mother. Although he never truly expresses any guilt outright, we could interpret his dialogue to his boss as a hidden way of expressing his feelings. However, he considers his decision to send his mother to the old people's home very logically, and doesn't seem to feel much regret. A couple more absolutely absurd chapters fly by and we can only watch as Monsieur Meursault digs himself into a deeper hole.

    Unsurprisingly, things take a turn for the worse in chapter six, when he literally kills someone. Now if that wasn't a wake up call for him I would be seriously concerned. But alas, he only shows the tiniest morsel of emotion regarding the crime he has just committed. However, his interview with a lawyer reveals some notable information. Meursault says, "my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings" (Camus 65). Now that explains a lot. He sleeps because he's tired, he eats because he's hungry, he kisses a girl because it feels good, and he pulls the trigger because he's in pain. This guy seriously never has a goal, whether on a day-to-day basis or in his overall life.

    I would like to go back to chapter five, when Meursault has a talk with his boss. The conversation ends with his boss telling him that he has no ambition and Meursault thinks, with no perceptible sadness, that he lost his ambitions when he gave up his studies. So is he the way he is because of this?  Is his lack of ambition the explanation for his prioritization of physical needs? I think his situation is far too complicated to be reduced to this conclusion. We would also have to take into account his lack of self-analysis which he reveals he is aware of... but that would be a whole new discussion (not for today). I'm sure this book will have a nice, satisfying ending that clears everything up...

    

 *Reading his perspective felt like playing a video game for the first time and growing increasingly frustrated that you can’t see anything about your avatar except for its forearms and hands, before finally figuring out how to use a birds-eye view. Maybe this is just a me problem.