Manliness How do each of the characters in The Sun Also Rises relate to the theme of manliness? By Haley Greenfield

Robert Cohn Manly He can have sexual relationships Boxed in college and plays tennis Unmanly allows himself to be controlled by the women in his life (Frances) Follows Brett around Insecure and self-conscious Cohn is not a veteran of the Great War Cohn believes in true love and does not favor sex as recreation

Cohn suffers from feelings of inferiority because he is Jewish “Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think I am very much impressed by that as a boxing title, but it meant a lot to Cohn. He cared nothing for boxing, in fact he disliked it, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly to counteract the feeling of inferiority and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton.” Cohn suffers from feelings of inferiority because he is Jewish Cohn has an intense need to be accepted Jake's narration has a tone of condescension his hostile and skeptical attitude toward Cohn is bound up with jealousies and insecurities of his own

Jacob Barnes Manly reads Bull fighting magazines, plays sports Unmanly feels insecure about his manhood and takes it out on Cohn’s unmanly behavior Jake's condition is the most explicit example of weakened masculinity in the novel His sexual attraction can never be satisfied, because he has been castrated in combat during World War I He cried when talking to Brett

Lady Brett Ashley In many ways, she is more manly than the men in the book Has a masculine name She is strong and independent She refers to herself as a “chap” Has a short, masculine haircut She embodies traditionally masculine characteristics role reversal

Jake: “Couldn't we live together, Brett? Couldn't we just live together?” Brett: “I don't think so. I'd just tromper you with everybody.” Jake begs Brett to be with him She tells him that she would only cheat on him since Jake can’t satisfy Brett's need for sex Brett knows Jake wouldn't be able to stand this The fact that Jake can’t perform sexually, has left him emotionally conflicted because he is unable to be with the love of his life