Symbolism In The Sun Also Rises By Hemingway

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In The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway depicts the male ego as fragile and damaged, especially damaged in between the two world wars. Jake, rendered impotent, is the obvious symbol; nonetheless, all of the men encompass the struggle of the diminished male ego. In the quote above, the introduction of a homosexual party exacerbates the sense of male insecurity even further. Jake entered the bar alone. He saw a group of young men, “some in jerseys and some in their shirtsleeves, got out. I could see their hands and newly washed, wavy hair in the light from the door.” He went on to describe their behaviors, leaving no doubt about their sexual orientation. Jake was wounded on many levels: first, the girl he likes but cannot have because of his