Abuses of Cohn in the Sun Also Rises

Abuses of Cohn in The Sun Also Rises

Most of the characters in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises portray lives of disillusionment. The characters of this novel are representative of the so-called Lost Generation. As the novel is set in the mid 1920s, the characters are men and women whose early adulthood was consumed by the horrific conflict of World War I. In the aftermath of this war, many people's beliefs in traditional values of manhood, justice, love, romance, life, and faith were shattered, causing great moral and psychological aimlessness. According to Dr. Toby D. Goldsmith of Psych Central, abusers may feel a need to control and dominate other people because of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other person due to their education and socioeconomic status. Additionally, Dr. Goldsmith says that studies suggest that abusive behavior, whether emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, is often caused by learned behaviors from their family, people in their community, and other cultural influences as they grow up; or, they may have seen violence often or they may have been victims themselves.

With this understanding, it is clear why one of the main characters in The Sun Also Rises, Jewish American, wealthy, and ex-boxer, Robert Cohn, was a recipient of much verbal abuse by many of the other characters. Acting as the foil character in the novel, Cohn represents the converse of the other aimless lives of the characters which are victims of The Lost Generation. Through his wealth and family, he was not involved in World War I, and thus not victim of The Lost Generation. However, in return, he becomes victim of abuse from those who were affected by the war; moreover, by the end of the novel, the abused becomes the abuser.

Cohn is verbally abused often throughout the novel, primarily because of his traditional pre-war ideals and values of life, love, romance, and fare-play. His ideals and values do not fit in with the ideals and values, or lack thereof, found among The Lost Generation. This is compounded by the anti-Semitic population of the time, causing him to feel like an unwanted outsider who is too different to fit in. For example, Bill says to Jake, "Well let him (Cohn) not get superior and Jewish" (Hemingway, 102). Additionally, the other characters abuse him so often because of his perceived feminine qualities. Many of his feminine qualities are exemplified throughout the novel by Cohn willingness to be dominated by a girlfriend, "The lady who had him, her name was Frances,...and her attitude toward Robert changed from one of careless possession and exploitation to the absolute determination that he should marry her." (Hemmingway 13); and through post girlfriend actions when Cohn waits in anticipation for his beloved Lady Brett Ashley and the not so beloved Mike Campbell when they were coming from San-Sebastian, Jakes narrates how Cohn "had taken a bath, had had a shave and a haircut and a shampoo, and something put on his hair afterward to make it stay down" (Hemingway, 103). Also, Cohn illustrates the normlessness of men and their masculinity, primarily due to the rise of the post-war independent woman. Cohn follows Brett around like a puppy-dog, which contradicts the hyper-masculine role of the macho man being in charge. Things like these challenge the already confused male-role of The Lost Generation. When the so-called "friends" see Cohn engaging in what they feel is unmanly behavior, such as following Brett around, they target him for abuse. Yet, ironically they all try and get Brett in their own way. However, with the strong, independent, and boyish new women of the 1920's, the Lost Generation gives up on true love to accommodate for the more promiscuous women of the times who will not be controlled through love. This sense of confusion and loss of masculinity only fuels the attacks on Cohn for his continued romantic outdated ways. Yet, like Jake, they secretly will