"You are all a lost generation." -Gertrude Stein The Lost Generation "You are all a lost generation." -Gertrude Stein

Robert Cohn "Listen, Jake," he leaned forward on the bar. "Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you've lived nearly half the time you have to live already?" – Robert Cohn

Escape from Dissatisfaction: Like most expatriates, Cohn seeks solace from adventure by venturing and residing in foreign nations. Yet, not much later in novel, Cohn found another alternative: pursuing his infatuation of Brett, even after knowing that she is engaged to Mike Campbell. This free love or unrepressed sexuality marks a strong break from traditional views of sexuality from a prior era.

Jacob Barnes “I was kneeling with my forehead on the wood in front of me, and was thinking of myself as praying, I was a little ashamed, and I regretted that I was such a rotten Catholic, but realized there was nothing I could do about it, at least for a while and maybe never, but that anyway it was a grand religion, and I only wished i felt religious and maybe I would the next time....” – Jacob Barnes

Lack of Spirituality “I realized there was nothing I could do about it” This quote is testament to the apathetic feelings felt by most individuals of the Lost Generation. Their sense of irresponsibility do not make them feel obligated to do something for the imperfect world.

Brett, Lady Ashley “[Brett] she is the only lady i have ever known who was as charming when she was drunk as when she was sober.“ -Count Mippipopolous

Alcoholism The Prohibition was at full swing during the 1920’s but that didn’t stop most Americans, especially the expatriates. All characters in the novel have some symptoms of alcoholism, drinking as it was their occupation. But it’s also a coping mechanism for these characters as they are aimless, uncertain, and irresponsible.