Hemingway’s Tragic Spirit As Reflected In The Sun Also Rises

Ernest Hemingway, the winner of the Noble Prize in literature and the PulitzerPrize, is one of the most talented writers in the twentieth century. With his sensitiveinsight and distinguished writing technique, he explores the alienated spiritual humanpredicament in modern society, records the catastrophes brought by the inhuman warsand describes the destined tragedy in confrontation of the individual and society.The Sun Also Rises, his first novel, published in1926, helps to establish him as thepreeminent writer of his day. Hemingway paints in The Sun Also Rises the image of thepostwar generation, a group of American young people with war trauma, wandering andsearching for superficial excitement along the journey from Paris to Spain. Jack Barnes,the protagonist, physically and psychologically injured due to the violence of war,searches for courage and meaning in life. As Hemingway’s first attempt on tragedy, it issuch a shocking masterpiece revealing spiritual bankruptcy and the tragic fate of “thelost generation” after the World War I in a world filled with chaos and meaninglessness.This thesis is divided into six parts. The first part involves a brief introduction toHemingway’s literature achievement and his vision of life in the early period of time.The experience of participating in the First World War exerts great influence on him.The cruelty of the war shatters the ideal of this passionate and enthusiastic young man.The first chapter is a review of tragedy theory, with focus on its development andmodern tragedy. Tragic review on this novel is also included in this chapter. This novel,defined as a modern tragedy, is much related to the existence predicament of theindividual in modern society. Code hero Jake owns this tragic spirit and gets psychictriumph in the alienated human spiritual predicament. The important literature reviewon tragic field is also included in this part. The second chapter focuses on theexploration of tragic roots in this novel. The First World War is the very root of all thetragedies. The spiritually depressed and corrupted atmosphere permeates the whole1920s. Hemingway’s early life experience is still an indispensable element in building his tragic consciousness as reflected in the novel. The third chapter is a discussion of thelost characters’ miserable life, including the morality bankruptcy, death of love andcomplex of anxiety veiled in the surface of hedonic life. The group of “lost neurotics”represented by Brett, Cohn and Mike sink into the pathetic life, addicting to alcohol, sex,dance and other pleasures. As a foil, they lead a spiritually empty and depraved life,which serves as the reinforcement of Jake’s tragic spirit. The fourth chapter states thattragic spirit in the novel is performed in both the Dionysian and Apollonian force. Ininfatuation with the beauty of nature, and static activity of fishing and swimming in thecountryside, Jake gets comfort and self-control in Apollonian dream. Except for thenature which endows the Apollo character, bullfighter Romero is another epitome ofApollonian dream. In the Dionysian force, the ecstatic activities in the San Fermin fiestalike drinking, singing and dancing all day and night, make Jake unconsciously melt intoa larger community and unity and overcoming the suffering. Bullfight, as anotherDionysian form in the revel, also has metaphorically tragic implication. In face of terrorand absurdity of existence, code hero Jake distinguishes himself from his degeneratedgroup, under the guidance of the impulse of Apollo and Dionysus, and finally gets hisspiritual triumph in the irreversible life trauma. The last part is a conclusion that out ofpity and fear in the traditional tragedy, code hero’s tragic spirit lies in the affirmation oflife. Although in the unequal tragic battle against universe, Jake gets his reconciliationand triumph in inner heart by confronting and accepting the catastrophe with man’sgrace and dignity. In the modern society, Jake’s life philosophy of affirmation of life inspiritual human plight has its inspiration and enlightenment for modern people.