Mind And Character Of Jake Barnes

12 Pages 3056 Words

two may share, something that Jake just cannot provide her with. Jake’s emasculation only puts the two in an extremely ironic situation. Brett is a very passionate woman but is denied the first man she feels true love and admiration for. Jake has loved Brett for years and cannot "have her" because of his inability to have sex. It is obvious that their love is mutual when Jake tries to kiss Brett in their cab ride home: "‘You mustn’t. You must know. I can’t stand it, that’s all. Oh darling, please understand!’, ‘Don’t you love me?’, ‘Love you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me’" (Hemingway 26). This scene is indicative of their relationship as Jake and Brett hopelessly desire each other but realize the hollowness of any further endeavors.
Together, they have both tried to defy reality, but failed. Jake is frustrated by Brett’s reappearance into his life and her confession that she is miserably unhappy. Jake asks Brett to go off with him to the country for a bit: "‘Couldn’t we go off in the country for a while?’, ‘It wouldn’t be any good. I’ll go if you like. But I couldn’t live quietly in the country. Not with my own true love’, ‘I know’, ‘Isn’t it rotten? There isn’t any use my telling you I love you’, ‘You know I love you’, ‘Let’s not talk. Talking’s all bilge’" (Hemingway 55). Brett declines Jake’s pointless attempt at being together. Both Brett and Jake know that any relationship beyond a friendship cannot be pursued. Jake is still adjusting to his impotence while Brett will not sacrifice a sexual relationship for the man she loves. Since Jake can never be Brett’s lover, they are forced to create a new relationship for themselves, perhaps one far more dangerous than that of mere lovers - they have become best friends. This presents a great difficulty for Jake, because Brett’s presence is both pleasurable and agonizing for him. Brett constantly reminds...