Jake’s Exploration of Religion in The Sun Also Rises
(Robert Cohn, Lady Brett Ashley, Pedro Romero, Jake Barnes, Bill Gorton, and Mike Campbell)
Early on in the book, when Jake is reflecting darkly on his injury and his relationship with Brett, he thinks “The Catholic Church had an awfully good way of handling all that. Good advice, anyway. Not to think about it. Oh, it was swell advice. Try and take it sometime. Try and take it” (Hemingway 39). This passage can be interpreted as having many different tones. I sense some bitterness in Jake’s tone as if saying this advice is way easier said than done and doesn’t do justice to his actual pain. The phrase “try and take it sometime” could also hint at the frustration that Jake hasn’t been able to heal mentally and emotionally from the past. Jake wants to be at peace with who he is, but he feels helpless over the fact that he still has trauma from his experiences. At this moment charged with negative emotion, he considers with what the Catholic Church would say about his troubles, engaging in some small way with religion.
Jake continues to engage with Catholicism in more active and intentional ways. Most notably, Jake goes to pray at a cathedral after arriving in Pamplona. When he gets distracted with other thoughts in prayer, he voices his disappointment, saying “ I was a little ashamed, and regretted that I was such a rotten Catholic, but realized there was nothing I could do about it, at least for a while… but anyway it was a grand religion, and if only I felt religious and maybe I would next time" (Hemingay 103). Jake struggles with “feeling religious” and his awkward interactions with religion imply that he’s never been very devout, but that he thinks that religion could help in some way, maybe dealing with his past trauma. He implies that he’ll be back at church more than once but when exactly is uncertain. There’s definitely a desire to find some kind of faith that he doesn’t have. I wonder when Jake started visiting the Church and if he only ever goes to Spain. It’s hard to imagine him truly praying in France.
Jake’s religious practices also seem odd in the context of his lifestyle, and the people he hangs out with. His friends are other members of the “Lost Generation” who practice a jaded and indulgent lifestyle, full of drinking and dark, ironic humor. This lifestyle acts as a shield against coping with all kinds of invisible wounds and demons. On the other hand, Catholicism is associated with relative sobriety, with rigorous expectations, and moral philosophy. I think of the scene where Bill asks if Jake’s really Catholic and Jake responds “Technically.” (Hemingway 129). It makes sense why Bill would ask because Christianity seems incoherent with their way of life, and Jake himself doesn't seem to understand it. This contrast seems purposeful. I think this dichotomy between Jake’s typical life and his religious practices represents some underlying desire for change. In all the turmoil of his existence, Jake reaches out to something different, hoping in some half-hearted way that it can help him find peace.
Kavanagh, Erin. “The Sun Also Rises.” Derp Derp, 22 Mar. 2012, burnbadart.blogspot.com/2012/03/sun-also-rises.html.
This was a very interesting take on a fairly unique element of the book. I liked how you analyzed it as a desire for change, as I think it is a very good read on what is going on. It seems interesting the way Jake uses his tone to create this ambiguity, but I think you did a good job dissecting it.
ReplyDeleteThe way that I interpreted it, Jake is religious, but like most other people, he is going through a hard time in his life that is affected his faith. When something traumatic happens, it is often easier to blame other people and lose your faith. I think this is what is going on with Jake. He is religious, but is struggling to have faith throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting aspect of Jake's character that we didn't get to talk about in class. One of the differences I would list between Spain and Paris as settings is that Jake goes to church in Spain but not in Paris (there are a number of cathedrals in Paris, I've heard!). And we learn on the train that he considers himself a Catholic and a person of faith. We actually see him *pray* on more than one occasion.
ReplyDeleteHis bitter comment about "not thinking about it", of course, occurs in Paris. But this "ethos" that Jake attributes to Catholicism (basically, "repress feelings!") does accord with his own stoicism, his reluctance to "talk about it" or "you'll lose it." He badly WANTS "not to think about it"--he just knows that that's easy advice to give, tough advice to actually try and take.