Multi-analyses-of-the-Lost-Generation-in-The-Sun-A

Multi-analysesoftheLostGenerationinTheSunAlsoRisesAbstract:TheSunAlsoRises,aperennialfavorite,iswrittenbytheAmericanprolificnovelistErnestMillerHemingway.Thenovelportraysthelivesofthemembersoftheso-calledtheLostGeneration,thegroupofmenandwomenwhoselivesweredevouredbyWorldWarI.TheLostGenerationwhoexperiencedthewarbecamementallyandmorallylost,whosebeliefsinthetraditionalvaluesweredestabilized.Aimlessnessandimmorallyspiritualsalvationentirelytormentedthem.ThispapermainlyelaboratesonthecharacteristicsoftheLostGenerationinTheSunAlsoRisesfromtheperspectiveofcharacteranalysis.Keywords:theLostGeneration,JakeBarrens,BrettAshley,aimlessness,lossofethnics1.IntroductionTheLostGeneration,namedbyGertrudeStein,isagenerationthathasexperiencedWorldWarⅠ.Thebloodyandmercilessconflictsinthewarshatterthisgeneration’sfaithintraditionalvirtuessuchasgenuinelove,valorandpurity.Confrontedwiththediminishedprospects,theyareabsolutelysaturatedinthemeaninglessandaimlessworld,lookingforsolaceinluxuriousandimmoralmanners.Hemingwayportraysthosemiscellousmenandwomenwhosinkthemselvesinthevastandhazyworld,paintingtheimageoftheLostGenerationinTheSunAlsoRises.2.TheLostGeneration2.1TheaimlessnessoftheLostGenerationItisnoexaggerationthatWorldWarⅠhasshatteredmanypeople’sbeliefsintraditionalvaluesofmorality,faith,justice.Withoutthosevirtuestodependon,theLostGenerationistorturedbytheaimlessnessoflife.“JakeBarnes,RobertCohn,andBrettAshleyareseenwanderingpointlesslyand,restlessandimpotent,enjoyingthingslikefishing,swimming,abullfight,andbeautiesofnaturebutawareallthewhilethattheworldiscrazyandmeaninglessandfutile”(Chang,2008:222).Becauseofpsychologicalandmoralaimlessness,theykilltheirtimebydrinkingsomuch,usuallytoexcessasakindofescapism,whichdrivestheirinnerlivesmoremiserable.JakeBarnes,anaimlessspokesmanoftheLostGeneration,standsprominentlyinTheSunAlsoRises.AsasoldierinWorldWarⅠ,hesuffersphysicalinjuriesthathavemadehimphysicallyimpotentandisunabletohavesex.Hisexperiencesinthedevastatingwarunderminehisbeliefsinbrotherhoodofman,sincerity,andmorality.ItishisphysicalimpotencethatincurshisfruitlessattemptstomarryBrettAshley.“Hisphysicalimpotenceisatokenofmodernman’sspiritualimpotence”(Chang,2008:222).ThefactthatBrettAshleyrefusestosharewealandwoewithhimexercisessorrowfulandmelancholicinfluenceonhispsychology,drivinghimtobeanalcoholic.Hewandersfrombartobaranddrinksheavilyeverytime.DrunkennessadministersspiritualcomfortonhimandallowshimtobelostintheFool’sParadise.However,insomeimportantrespects,heseemsawareoftheaimlessnessoflifebutfailstofightagainstit.InChapterⅡ,whenRobertCohnasksJake,“‘Don’tyouevergetthefeelingthatallyourlifeisgoingbyandyou’renottakingadvantageofit?Doyourealizeyou’velivednearlyhalfthetimeyouhavetolivealready?’Jakereplies:‘Yes,everyonceinawhile’”(Hemingway,1999:19).Helamentsonthetransientlifeandrepudiatesmildlythelifestyledevoidoforientation,meaningbutheacceptshisfate.Insomerespects,hislifeobliquelymirrorsthatofLadyBrettAshley,andRobertCohnwhoarethemembersoftheLostGeneration.2.2LossofethicsThepostwarworldisimpregnatedwiththedisobedienceofthetraditionalvalues.WorldWarIundercutstraditionalnotionsofmorality.Thepracticeofdissolutesexualintercoursebecomesrampant.Hypocriticalaffectionincursafeelingofestrangementbetweenfriends.2.2.1SexualdegradationSexualattractionisadestructivecompulsionandforceinTheSunAlsoRises.Loveisnolongeraspontaneousfeelingarisingfromtheheartbutisconfinedbyanaffectionofsex.BrettAshley,undoubtedly,istheprotrudingdissoluterepresentativeinthisnovel.Heruninhibitedsexualaffairshavenotfilledheremptiness.Shewandersfrommantoman.ThatBrettleadsalicentiouslifethatdrivesJakeandMikegrievedandgivesimpetustotheactsofviolencefromCohn.Sexbecomestheonlystandardhowshejudgesthetruelove.Thetraditionalmoralityofloveisdefinitelyabandonedbyher.AlthoughBrettlovesJakedeeply,thatJake’simpotencefailstosatisfyBrett’sdesirefromsexgivesrisetotheimpossibilitybetweenthem.InChapterⅣ:Thestreetwastornupandmenwereworkingonthecartracksbythelightofacetyleneflares.Brett‘sfacewaswhiteandthelonglineofherneckshowedinthebrightlightoftheflares.ThestreetwasdarkagainandIkissedher.Ourlipsweretighttogetherandthensheturnsawayandpressedagainstthecorneroftheseat,asfarawayasshecouldget.Herheadwasdown.“Don’ttouchme,”shesaid.“Pleasedon’ttouchme.”“What’sthematter?”“Ican’tstandit.”(Hemingway,1999:33)Despitethedeepestlovebetweenthem,physicalmaladybecomesthebarriertofurtheringthelove.Traditionally,sexintercourseisanapproachtobreedingafreshgeneration,whileitbecomesthespokesmanforlookingforsolaceunderthetemptationofsexinTheSunAlsoRises.2.2.2HypocriticalfriendshipExpressionsoftrueaffectionarerarelyexposedbetweentheLostGeneration.Theirtruefeelingsarehiddenbehindamaskofarefinedandcivilmanner.Innerindifferencewearsacoatofaninextinguishableardor,whichisalmostdemonstratedfromthehypocriticalfriendshipbetweenJakeandCohn.ThefriendshipbetweenJakeandCohnisfragileanddelicateonthebasisthattheimageofBetteisn’tdisillusioned.InChapterⅤ,CohnconsultsJakeabouttheinformationaboutBrett.Falsefriendshipman