Introduction
Before discussing the gender role in The Sun Also Rises, we might clear a typical thing. We often get confused and think that sex and gender are the same thing. But there is added description of gender which refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes behaviours, norms and roles linked with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender can change over time and varies from society to society. Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, describes narrator Jake Barnes’ journey from Paris to Pamplona with the company of old friends and expatriates. Throughout the novel, Hemingway depicts a crucial display of the connection between gender roles and its destructive effect on relationships.
Portraying of Male and Female
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is an example of how an entire generation redefined gender roles after being affected by the war. The Lost Generation of the 1920’s underwent a great significance of change that not only affected their behaviours and appearances but also how they perceived gender identity. Lady Brett Ashley, the female dominant character and Jake Barnes alone with other male characters of the novel experience shattered gender role in The Sun Also Rises because of the post war era. Again, the characters in the novel lead a life in which drugs and alcohol are used to shadow emotions and ideals of romanticism.
Brett’s lack of emotional connection to her various lovers opposes Jake’s true love for her. Which reveals role reversal in gender and the redefinition of masculinity and femininity. The man is usually the one that is more emotionally detached and tends to be strong emotionally whilst not caring much about others’ feelings. But in this case Lady Brett Ashley has a masculine quality of being emotionally detached and having the right to choose the mate as per her wish. Whereas Jake and other male characters in the text revolve around the character Brett.
Gender Role in The Sun Also Rises
Both men and female characters in the novel do not necessarily fit their gender roles in society as per conventions. We see Brett as a free spirited, independent bold kind of woman. She lives by giving priority to own desire only. While see the male characters to revolve around her and fighting for her. It also signifies the men in the text as bullfighting, where they just fight without any achievement. As they belong to the lost generation, they do not have any aim and so just live momentarily. But there is one male character different from all and holding the masculinity. He is Romero, who also fought and won against the bull. This shows him as strong and bold and confident, who also doesn’t belong to the lost generation.
Idea of New Woman in the novel
The term “New Woman” initially emerged as a figure in the 1890s, who wanted to infringe on male-dominated careers so started going to college. The portrayal of Brett in the novel functions to draw out the connection between that historical figure of a new woman and Brett. The most important of these shared characteristics is the previously mentioned blending of the feminine and the masculine in both appearance and behaviours such as displays of power as seen in her role in relationships.
Brett shows her physical appearance to be a similar fusion as Hemingway describes her both as a bit of a boy with “her hair! -brushed back like boys” and as a woman with curves like “hull of a racing yacht”. Here, it is Brett’s hair that most clearly evokes the masculine, especially considering the proximity of this period. Into the preceding Victorian era where long hair was the symbol for women.
The novel itself is then aware of the importance of Brett’s haircut as a symbol of the New Woman. That is taking on masculine qualities through its note that “She [Brett] started all that”. Women doing things out of their limit falls under the concept New Women. Brett chooses partners for herself. She is not the other in the text, rather the male characters are shown as others. Brett is not dominated rather she is dominating. Jake is strongly the other, maybe because he is not up to the standard of complete masculinity due to being impotent. Romero is not the other, as he is physically strong enough to satisfy a woman.
‘The Sun Also Rises’ and Others
American female characters are way bolder from beginning till end then other English female characters. Hester Prynne, the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter, has been a remarkable bold and strong character. She firmly stood till the end with all her courage on her decision to decide the coming fate of life. Brett is seen to be remaining bold throughout.
We see earlier female characters like Catherine of Wuthering Heights or Lady Macbeth of Macbeth, or Stella of Great Expectations. They are not firm till the end and rather collapse. Catherine by her wish she chooses to marry Edgar for high status. But collapses at the end, she gets insane and then dies. Lady Macbeth who is screwed and manipulative to reach her desire, even collapses at the end and dies. Stella who hurts men all the time and doesn’t care for anyone’s feelings. At the end, she is not in a happy state.
Conclusion
Just a shift in gender role doesn’t mean a change in sex, as one physical attribute does not change. Hemingway’s projection of male and female characters have been the opposite of the conventional ideas of male and female gender. As well as, the roles they play in society. Jake himself is a symbol of all of these dynamics of masculinity and insecurity. He has literally, physically been emasculated by a genital injury in the war, making him impotent and thus less confident making him other. Brett’s behaviour further brings into play the idea or value of manliness. The men display traditionally feminine behaviour as being dominated.
Brett, with her short haircut, bantering conversation, and constant desire for sex, makes her deviate from the conventional feminine quality. She doesn’t limit herself to female chastity according to the society. If we judge her from a conventional way, she is immoral, not a loyal being. Indeed the concept of gender role in The Sun also Rises is an important topic to explore in the novel.