In The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway tells the story of the lost generation through a group of American expatriations living in Paris post World War I. The characters are all wounded, emotionally, physically or mentally, and lost in a sense that the inherited values and old concepts are no longer existent, defunct. Therefore, all the characters in the book all share a common goal, looking for a new set of values to replace the old ones. The only way to survive in it, a random chaotic world, is by finding out how to go about it. Many people in the book try to escape the heartaches of this world and learn how to live in it by immersing themselves into drunken disillusions and sexual interactions. But, the only character that fully learns "how to live in it" is Jake Barnes. Throughout the book, Jake begins to learn "how to live in it" through controlling his life. From very early on in the book, it is evident Jake …show more content…
He maintains a conscientious work ethic. At "the Editor and Publisher, (he) worked hard for two hours. Then sorted out the carbons, stamped on a by-line, put the stuff in a couple of big manila envelopes and rang for a boy to take them to the Gare St. Lazare" (19). After he finished his work, he found Robert Cohn, who has accompanied him to the office, "asleep in the big chair" (19), which further emphasizes the inactivity of the people living in this world. Also when Brett visits Jake's house and invites him to come out drinking, je declines the offer, insisting that he has "to work in the morning" and that he is "too far behind" (referring to Brett's drunkenness) "to catch up and be any fun" (37). In the morning, he goes to the office and after reading the French papers and having a smoke, he sits "at the typewriter" and gets "off a good morning's work" (39). Jake is not lost; he is being productive has a purpose in his life, unlike many of his fellow friends who drink booz all day