The Sun Also Rises

Seeker
Jun 5, 2022
1 min read

The Sun Also Rises opens with a quote by Gertrude Stein that reads “You are all a lost generation.” This is a fitting way to describe how the characters of The Sun Also Rises feel after their time during World War I. Veteran Jake Barnes is living in Paris when he runs into his old flame Brett Ashley. He wants to spend the rest of his life with her, but the war has taken a toll on him and others have caught Ashley’s eye. This situation leads to a bitter exploration of an aimless generation, male insecurity brought about by World War I, and the destructive power of sex. The characters of The Sun Also Rises feel lost and confused and have nowhere to look for answers but the bottom of a bottle.