The Sun Also Rises (Plot Summary)

Plot Summary

Book I

The Sun Also Rises is set in Paris and Spain in the 1920s and depicts the lives of a group of young American and English expatriates living in the aftermath of World War I. Often read as a representation of the now familiar "Lost Generation," Hemingway's story revolves around the impossible love affair between the war-damaged American journalist Jake Barnes, the novel's narrator, and Lady Brett Ashley, a former nurse in a hospital Jake was in during the war.

Jake begins his narrative by introducing Robert Cohn, one of his friends in Paris. A one-time boxing champion at Princeton, Cohn, as he is generally called, is now the author of a rather "poor novel" and is living in Europe with his fiancee, Frances. Lamenting the fact that his life is quickly passing by and that he is not really living it, Cohn tries to recruit Jake for a voyage to South America. Jake, however, will not join him. He knows first-hand that traveling to another country does not make a difference and tells his friend that "you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another."

Shortly after parting from Cohn, Jake picks up a prostitute walking in front of a cafe. He buys her a drink and takes her out to dinner. Riding in a cab to the restaurant, the girl, Georgette, touches Jake but he pushes her away. He later explains that he was wounded during the war. After dinner, they go to a club where several of Jake's friends have gathered. When Brett arrives, Jake notices that Cohn cannot keep his eyes off her. Jake and Brett soon leave the club and find a cab. As they drive, Jake kisses Brett but she turns away. She tells him that she loves him but cannot bear to go through "that hell again."

They proceed to the Cafe Select and are introduced to Count Mippipopolous, a man who, Brett later confirms, is "quite one of us." Jake leaves early and returns home. As he prepares for bed, he undresses and looks at himself in the mirror. "Of all the ways to be wounded," he thinks. Unable to sleep, he thinks of his accident and how he would probably never have minded had he never met Brett. He cries and finally falls asleep.

The next day, Cohn tells Jake that he might be in love with Brett. When asked what he know's about her, Jake tells him that Brett is a drunk and that she is engaged to Mike Campbell, presently is Scotland. That evening, Jake receives a visit from Brett and the Count. He is feeling "pretty rotten" and Brett sends the Count on an errand so they can be alone. Jake asks Brett if they could live together but she tells him that she would just "tromper" him with everyone. She then announces that she is going to San Sebastian and that, when she returns, Mike will be back.

When the Count returns from his errand, they finish off three bottles of champagne and go out for dinner. After some dancing at Zelli's, Brett tells Jake that she is feeling miserable and would like to leave. Immediately, Jake gets the feeling that he is going through something that has happened before. They bid goodnight to the Count and leave together. Outside her hotel, Brett tells Jake not to come up. They kiss, Brett pushes Jake away and they kiss again. Brett then turns and enters the hotel.

Book II

Jake does not see Brett again until her return from San Sebastian. Nor does he see Cohn, who has reportedly gone to the country for a couple of weeks. Upon Brett's return, arrangements are made for everyone to join Jake and his friend, Bill Gorton, on their fishing trip to Spain. Brett worries that this excursion might be rough on Cohn, revealing that they were together in San Sebastian. Jake and Bill meet Cohn in Bayonne and travel on to Pamplona but, at the last minute, Cohn backs out of the fishing trip, deciding instead to meet Brett and Mike in San Sebastian. Jake and Bill spend five days fishing, drinking and playing bridge in Burguete, then return to Pamplona to meet Brett, Mike, and Cohn.

After witnessing the unloading of the bulls, Cohn remarks that "it's no life being a steer." This comment starts Mike, who is drunk and who knows of the affair with Brett, on a long tirade against Cohn. He figures Cohn should enjoy being a steer, since they never say anything and are always hanging about. He asks Cohn why it is that he does not know when he is not wanted and why he follows Brett around like a steer. That night, Jake is unable to sleep. He is jealous of what happened to Cohn. He likes to see Mike hurt him but wishes he would not do it because he feels disgusted with himself afterwards.

On the first day of the fiesta of San Fermin, Jake, Brett and the others are led into a wine shop by a group of men dancing in the street. All eat, drink, sing and have a good time, except Cohn, who passes out in a back room. The following afternoon, Jake and Bill are introduced to Pedro Romero, a young bullfighter. Later, they see that Pedro is a "real one" — his bullfighting gives real emotion whereas the others only fake danger. After the bullfight, Brett says she thinks Pedro lovely and comments on his tight green trousers.

The next morning, Montoya, owner of the hotel where the "real ones" stay, seeks Jake's advice concerning the American ambassador's request to meet Pedro. Montoya fears the influence such a meeting might have on the young bullfighter and Jake agrees that Montoya should not pass along the message. Later that day, Jake finds himself sitting in the dining room with Brett, his friends and Pedro. Montoya enters the room and starts to smile at Jake but then notices Pedro sitting at a table full of drunks. He leaves the room without even nodding.

A little while later, Brett tells Jake that she is mad about Pedro. Jake advises her not to do anything but then agrees to help her find the young bullfighter. When Cohn finds out that Brett and Pedro are together, he calls Jake a pimp and boxes him and Mike to the ground. He then finds Brett and Pedro and beats the bullfighter badly. Later that night, he apologizes to Jake and explains that he could not stand Brett's cool behavior toward him. He tells Jake that he will be leaving in the morning. On the last day of the fiesta, Jake and the others learn that Brett has gone off with Pedro.

Book III

The fiesta over, Jake, Bill and Mike all leave Pamplona. They drive together as far as Bayonne, then go their separate ways. Jake plans a quiet week in San Sebastian but a telegram from Brett shortens his stay. He joins her in Madrid and there learns that she has sent Pedro away. She tells Jake that she realized Pedro should not be living with anyone and that she did not want to be "one of these bitches that ruins children." She then tells him that she will go back to Mike. They arrange for tickets out of Madrid and stop for drinks and dinner. Afterwards, they go for a ride in a taxi. Sitting close to Jake, Brett says: "Oh, Jake, we could have had such a damned good time together." Jake's response ends the novel: "Yes, isn't it pretty to think so?"