Dwyer 1
Brian Dwyer
Ms. Kurtz
ENG3U1-07
6 March 2008
Hemingway’s Characters: Epitome of the Lost Generation
The young adults of the 1920s were coined the lost generation by writer, Gertrude Stein
because they “had their dreams and innocence smashed by World War I, thus, emerging from the
war bitter and aimless” (Stein 25). The characters of Ernest Hemingway’s, The Sun Also Rises,
are the embodiment of this aimless drift of people. Lady Brett Ashley was injured emotionally
after a great love loss, which brought about her bought with alcoholism. She moves from man to
man in a meaningless search for true love; ultimately associating herself with men who will
never fulfill this void. One such companion of Brett’s, Count Mippopolous, also attempts to fill
a void in his life. The count was hurt in the war. This physical wound left him highly sensitive.
Consequently, he too resorted to self-satisfying endeavors; producing an exceptionally shallow
man. Much like the count, Jake Barnes lives a life filled with torment and sorrow. Engulfed in
longing for the past, Jake’s war wound prevents him from moving forward. His impotence has
built an immense insecurity for him. His relationship with both men and women are evidence of
his sense of worthlessness. Thus, by focusing on various characters’ injuries, Hemingway shows
the lack of productivity and morals of the lost generation.
Dwyer 2
The young adults of the 1920s were coined the lost generation by writer, Gertrude Stein
because they “had their dreams and innocence smashed by World War I, thus, emerging from the
war bitter and aimless.” The characters of Ernest Hemingway’s, The Sun Also Rises, are the
embodiment of this aimless drift of people. “Lady Brett Ashley was injured emotionally after a
great love loss, which brought about her bought with alcoholism” (Hemingway 23). She moves
Notice that
there is no
extra
spacing
between
paragraph
Ensure
that the
first line
of each
new
paragraph
is indented
one tab
from man to man in an meaningless search for true love; ultimately associating herself with men
Reference
s under 3
lines
long are
embedded
in the
sentence,
and is
surrounded
who will never fulfill this void.
One such companion of Brett’s, Count Mippopolous, also attempts to fill a void in his life.
The count was hurt in the war. Hemingway writes,
Always introduce a quotation, and follow it with
a comma.
Consequently, he too resorted to self-satisfying endeavors; producing an
exceptionally shallow man. Much like
References over
3 lines long are
indented on both
sides, and DOES
NOT have
quotation marks.
Notice that
the
sentence
that
follows an
indented
quotation
is not
indented…
carry on
as you
would in a
regular
paragraph.
Last name
and page
# on
on every
page
including
works
cited but
not first
page
the count, Jake Barnes lives a life
filled with torment and sorrow. (Hemingway 65)
Engulfed in longing for the past, Jake’s war wound prevents him from moving forward. His
by
quotation
marks.
Notice
how to ref.
the
source.
Use
author’s
last name
and
page #.
NOTE: do
not write
The word
page and
do not
use a
comma
between
them;
just a
space.
impotence has built an immense insecurity for him. His relationship with both men and women
are evidence of his sense of worthlessness. Thus, by focusing on various characters’ injuries,
Hemingway shows the lack of productivity and morals of the lost generation.
The young adults of the 1920s were coined the lost generation by writer, Gertrude Stein
because they “had their dreams and innocence smashed by World War I, thus, emerging from the
war bitter and aimless.” The characters of Ernest Hemingway’s, The Sun Also Rises, are the
embodiment of this aimless drift of people. “Lady Brett Ashley was injured emotionally after a
Though
the
quotation
marks
are
implied,
you must
still
include the
author’s
last
name and
page
number
where the
quotation
came
from.
Dwyer 3