Robert Cohn

Robert Cohn 

       “You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”

    When Jake said this to me I didn't know how to react. He was right though. I was trying to convince him to go with me to South America on vacation. I just wanted to get away but deep down I wanted to feel something. My life lately has been very meaningless and unfulfilled and I wanted that to change. I thought traveling the world would fix it but instead, I just brought my problems with me everywhere I went. Trying to resolve all my personal issues through constant travel was a waste of time and money. So was the drinking. We drank all the time and I regret it. I spent an entire decade of my life drunk instead of trying to enjoy life. I later realized that all this travel and drinking and recklessness I 0was wasteful and useless and in the end I felt worse than when I started. 

Jake Barnes

Brett looked at me. "I say," she said, "is Robert Cohn going on this trip? "Yes. Why?" "Don't you think it will be a bit rough on him?" "Why should it?" "Who did you think I went to San Sebastian with?

(Hemingway 89)

         Why am I not surprised. Of course she's sunk her claws into Robert as well. Robert was completely infatuated with her at first sight. That fool doesn't understand what Brett does, as much as I love her; she just sleeps around. He's most likely thinking that she holds feelings for him, unfortunately for him, she couldn't care less about him. That what he gets for going after Brett, she's my true love, and she loves me back. Despite my feelings for her, I can't help but feel a bit used sometimes. She always comes to me with her emotional issues, but our relationship doesn't extend past that.

Bill Gorton

Bill Gorton

For Bill I Chose this picture because he is always happy and when I think of people happy I think about  smiling. I also imagine Bill like this because of the way he talks I think he is a very attractive. 

“Bill Gorton arrived, put up a couple of days at the flat and went off to Vienna. He was very cheerful and said the States were wonderful…..Bill was very happy. He had made a lot of money on his last book, and was going to make a lot more. We had a good time while he was in Paris”

I  think what Jake said about me is that I am different from the other people in this group in many ways, but I am also similar in many ways. Compared to the others in the group I am more laid back. I am still patriotic toward my country even after the war unlike many of the Americans living in France. Being apart of the lost generation as affected me more because like many of the american living in France i find myself in a constant battle.  

Jake Barnes

JAKE BARNES 

“I mistrust all frank and simple people, especially when their stories hold together…” (12 Hemingway)

The quote above exemplifies how I would describe myself with one word. That word is anti-social. The world I live in is full of horrible liars and cheats. Everyone either drinks, gambles, or has sex with someone they don’t really love. The world is inherently evil at its core. People will use anyone just so they can feel superior to them, even if the person being used is the nicest person on earth. That is why I keep my distance from people. I like to spend my time writing or drinking, rather than being out with so called friends. I don’t like most of my friends.

Personally I don’t even like myself. I’m dissatisfied with myself because I don’t know who I am. A while back a pretty lady named Georgette tried to kiss me. When she came closer I pushed her back because I felt uncomfortable and ill. When I’m in the dark I worry about all the problems I have. During the day it’s easy to shrug off my problems but at night all I do is worry and at times I want to just cry. I slept for six months with my lights on just so I can escape the dark and it’s wanderlust problematic thinking. I also want to be a real Catholic, but I know that’ll never happen. It’s just I’m a awful Catholic. I have a great big problem of wanting to have an identity but always end up being dissatisfied because I can’t find one.  

Though I can say one of the best times I had was in Burguete, Spain where Bill and I went fishing. “There was no undergrowth, only the smooth grass, very green and fresh, and the big gray trees well spaced as though it were a park. "This is country," Bill said.” (122 Hemingway) The scenery was absolutely beautiful. That was the escape I always wanted. Bill and I talked about topics I rarely discuss with anyone. He made me feel as if he actually cared about me. All of my other friends were elsewhere and I finally felt at peace. My anti-social side disappeared at Burguete and a friendlier side came out. My worries vanished and all I thought about was the good in life. The landscape was purer than any other place I gone to.

The biggest conflict I faced was Brett. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. “Oh darling," Brett said, "I’m so miserable." I had that feeling of going through something that has all happened before. "You were happy a minute ago."” (70 Hemingway) Brett is always miserable. If she seems happy just dig a little deeper and you’ll find it. Brett has feelings for me and I know it. The only thing that is stopping her is my impotence. I just want a loving relationship but all she wants is a physical relationship that I can’t provide. I have tried time and time again to make her look past that and it isn’t working. She continues to run off with other men who are nothing without her. Maybe one day I’ll have my chance to show I’m meant for her.   

Lady Brett Ashley

"Couldn't we live together, Brett? Couldn't we just live together?"

"I don't think so. I'd just tromper you with everybody. You couldn't stand it."

"I stand it now."

"That would be different. It's my fault, Jake. It's the way I'm made."


I don't know why Jake keeps insisting about this! I've told him about a dozen times that it's impossible for us to be together. I'm not the type of woman that can stay with one man and be happy. I just... can't do it. Monogamy is just not in my plan! I need more than what he can give and he just doesn't want to accept that. If we were together, I'd probably just cheat on him- I can't help it! He wouldn't be able to bear it. It would break his heart and I couldn't do that to him. He's seen how I am. He knows that I don't do commitment, so WHY does he keep asking? It's not that I don't love him- he knows that I love him... but I just can't be with him. Why can't he understand?! It's nice to dream about... but in reality, it's really a very silly idea.

Lady Brett Ashley

"Don't touch me" she said

"Please don't touch me"

"What's the matter?"

"I can't stand it?"

"Oh, Brett."                              

"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."

"Isn't there anything we can do about it?"

I cannot do this with him anymore. Yes, I loved Jacob, I still might, but there's nothing I can do for him. Jake loves me and I know that, but he isn't enough for me. I have to move on. We aren't right for each other and he knows it well. I don't want to hurt him. I feel like its my fault we can't be together. I like broken people, but Jake's brokenness cannot be fixed. I just want to enjoy myself, the idea of being "in love" with one person frightens me, especially if they don't fulfill my needs. We just need to stay away from each other for a while so my emotions can even out. When I'm around him I feel like I'm going mad. He just needs to know that "we", even though it is a nice thing to think about, would never work out.

Lady Brett Ashley

                              Lady Brett Ashley

             "I'm going to marry him," Brett said. "Funny. I haven't thought about him for a week."

             "Don't you write him?"

             "Not I. Never write letters."

             "I'll bet he writes to you."

             "Rather. Damned good letters, too"(Hemingway 69).

   I do not understand what is going through this man's head. I am much to busy to write Mike letters. I mean it's not like he's my husband yet. It is simply not my fault for me being so undeniably irresistible. Men just can control themselves when I appear whether it is right in front of them or in their minds. I am a free spirit and I refuse to be tied down. Marriage is a mere agreement between a man and woman in which they are seen together occasionally in public and where the woman is able to control any situation. I'm sure Mike understands this. Jake should come to terms with that if he ever expects to have a woman of his own. Shouldn't he? Love is just one of the many complicated, confusing, and dangerous things in life.