Sun Also Rises
...and even matchmakers around the world know this statement to be true. However in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, the relationship between Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn proves this statement wrong. Throughout the novel, Lady Brett has many types of relationships with a variety of people, most of whom are men. Some of these men include Jake Barnes, the narrator of the story, Mike Campbell, her supposed husband, and Pedro Romero. Lady Brett’s laid back, independent, and rather promiscuous life style creates many foil relationships with the various men she has affairs with. Brett’s foil relationships sometimes bring out the best qualities in people and other times unfortunately brings out the worst qualities. Throughout the book Lady Brett’s foil relationship with Robert Cohn bring out Cohn’s unpopularity, immaturity, and his possessive and obsessive control over Brett.
Throughout the book, Robert Cohn acts as a polite and enjoyable guy around most people. However, around Brett and with the people he hangs around with most, Cohn’s annoying and conceited personality comes out. While traveling to a fishing trip Jake introduces his friend Bill to Cohn. Right from the start Cohn’s annoying personality irritates Bill and they get into an argument. After Cohn announces he will not be traveling with them to Burguete to fish, Bill states, “‘And as for this Robert Cohn, he makes me sick, and he can go to hell, and I’m damn glad he’s staying here so we won’t have him fishing with us’” (Hemingway 108). Even though Bill has not known Cohn for long, he already does not like him. Bill’s first impression of Cohn is a bad one, whereas Bill’s first impression of Brett is very good. After Jake introduces Brett to Bill he thinks, “‘Quite a girl. She’s damned nice’” (Hemingway 81). Everyone, including Bill, like Brett and enjoy her personality and her company,...
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