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Literary Devices In The Sun Also Rises

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The Sun Also Rises written by Ernest Hemingway captures the essence of the post-World War I, Lost Generation era. It portrays a group of cynical, disillusioned American and English expatriates living in Paris, France and struggling to find their places in the world. Having seen needless death on a large scale, many living within this time period lost faith in traditional values and in turn became aimless and reckless. Through characterization, theme, symbolism, motifs, and other literary devices, this novel is able to illuminate the hardships that people face in a time of purposeless existence, moral ambiguity, and unrealized love. Throughout this narrative, it becomes apparent that each character is facing their own internal struggles. It …show more content…

He has spent most of his life feeling insecure and shy because he is Jewish. While in college, he learned how to box in order to counteract his feelings of inferiority. When he became a part of Jake’s group of friends, he was further ostracized because, unlike the rest of them, he never participated in the war. The others have been tainted by the blood and gore they once witnessed but, Robert Cohn still possesses a childish naivety that makes him seem pathetic to others. Robert “can’t stand it to think [his] life is going so fast and [he’s] not really living it” (18). Robert still wants to live his life and, in contrast to Jake, believes that adventure is the way to do so. He gets his ideal life views from reading books about true love and travel. Cohn falls in love with Brett as soon as he meets her and remains infatuated with her for the remainder of the novel. His pitiful love for her sparks tensions between himself, Jake and Mike. However, when Brett discards Robert he refuses to accept the truth because he is terrified of rejection. His status of the outsider within the group makes him an easy target for ridicule and often, the other men find pleasure at his

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