What use does Hemingway make of bull-fighting and bull-fighters in The Sun Also Rises ?

One of the greatest of all American novels is Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises . It tells the story of a group of American ex-patriots living in Paris during the decade following World War I . The story is set in several locales , particularly Paris . Hemingway's description of the nightlife and debauchery of the French capital in the 1920's is probably the most memorable ever set to print . The latter section of the novel is dedicated to the Festival of San Fermin , in Pamplona , Spain and it is another example of wild drinking and sexual tension run amok and highlighted by the famous "running of the bulls" .



There are three bull fighters - Belmonte , Marcial and Romero . Belmonte was very good , but he was past his prime . Although he was famous , the people expected him to be more than very good ; they expected him to be perfect , which he was not . This is not exciting and the crowd is not pleased . On the other hand , Marcial's performance was also mediocre .


Romero was young and had a unique talent for bull fighting . He was able to use his cape skilfully to entice the bull , and he moved with grace . He was often in the bull's terrain . One of the bulls he was fighting could not see well , and the crowd wanted this bull removed , but the president refused . Because the bull could not see well , he could not see the colors of the cape , so Romero had to get very , very close to him . Romero took his time and played with the bull , the bull thought Romero had given up , so he charged and Romero immediately put his cape out in front of the bull in a skillful move before Romero threw his muleta over the bull's head to blind him .


Bull fighting works on a few levels in the novel. One significance of the bull fighting is the ritual nature of the sport and the rigid culture of the sport. Dignity and self-denial are large part of the sport, as it is presented in the text. These are qualities that characterize Jake through much of the novel.


Jake's whole gang joins him for the festival, which features Mexican bull-fighting at its best as well as plenty of drinking and camaraderie. Jake and friends arrive in Pamplona several days before the beginning of the festival, which lasts a total of seven days. It is through this novel that the festival and its infamous "running of the bulls" became so well known in the United States.


Bull-fighting could be considered the ultra-macho sport and the characters spend most of their time on manly pursuits. The men constantly pursue their various sexual interests, and they find that bull-fighting is also a great lure of women as well. The fights in Pamplona seem to bring out the worst traits in them all - men and women - and the animals. They become a symbol of power and virility. Jake may not be able to satisfy women, particularly Lady Ashley, but the fights make him feel more like a man - and arouse Brett as well.


Hemingway uses sports in several symbolic ways in his terrific novel. The bull-fights are the true test of male courage and virility : Facing possible injury themselves and the colorful matadors are the envy of both men and their adoring female admirers. The sexually charged bull-fights are the central focus of the later part of the novel, moving the men to more drinking and Lady Brett to even greater romantic heights.