Dynamic Character (out of order- should be after Oxymoron)

pg 181 "Do you think you amount to something Cohn? Do you think you belong here among us?" At this point I think it is safe to say that Mike could be considered a dynamic character. Throughout the storythe reader sees Mike as a kind man (or atleast I did). He never says much. Though there have been hints of his jealousy over Brett before, this is the first time Mike ever lets out his real feelings. He finally snaps. His character goes from that of a quietfriend to a jealous man. Though he later goes off to say that he was drunk i believe that he truly meant everything he said to Cohn. He finally had enough and needed to do something about it.

Irony

FINALLYYY!! pg 251 "Oh Jake," Brett said, "We could have had such a damned good time together." okay so when i read books i always cheat and read the last few sentences or so of the book just to see how everything will turn out in the end. When i read this part i thought okay, so Brett and Jake arent going to work out after all. However, when i read the chapter in its entirety i got a new perspective on this. Rather than thinking Brett was talking about her relationship with Jake, i later came to believe that she was referring to her realtionship with Romero. I think this because she kept dwelling on her late relationship with Romero and how right they would have been for eachother. I think this is the perfect example of irony beecause while Brett is talking about her relationship with Romero, Jake and the reader take it to mean her relationship with him. Which triggers his response "Yes," "Isnt it pretty to think so?" So although i really disliked this book... a whole lot, i thought the ending was pretty good. I like how Hemingway added this bit of irony to end the story on a happier note- at least seeing that Jake was somewhat happy in the end.

Unrequited love

pg 243 "Send a girl off with one man. Introduce her to another to go off with him. Now go and bring her back. And sign the wire with love." So i know Cohn did not truly mean what he said when he accused Jake of being a pimp. But here it almost sounds like that Jake is admitting to being one though it is not his fault at all for the way Brett behaved. I really did not like Bretts character for this reason. She seems like a tease. She goes from one man to the next unwilling to commit to any of them. And yet men are still attracted to her. In the story Jake, Cohn, Romero, and Mike all have deep feelings for her, but one by one she plays them all. It seems like this moment in the book is sort of like Jake's epiphany. He realizes that Brett will never settle down with one man, and yet he loves her anyways. What i think is really interesting about this is that I read Hemingway wrote this story based off of one of his own travels. If that is true, i cant help but to wonder if Brett was based off of a woman he loved whom treated him poorly.

Buying Friendship

pg 237 "If you want people to like you, you have only to spend a little money." This quote stuck out at me for two reasons. First of all because of its obvious shallow nature. I think Hemingway added this to prove that Spain is a much better place than France. The people in spain are more easygoing than that of France. It seems like Hemingway is trying to deliver the message that people in France are somewhat shallow and they base friendships off of money. I think it seems pathetic that Jake admits to over tipping people in order for them to create some sort of false friendship with him. Secondly, this phrase stuck out at me because i dont believe it to be true. Basically what this is saying is that a person can buy friendship. And if that were true then why couldnt Jake or Robert Cohn buy Brett's friendship, the only friendship either of them really values. I dont really understand why Hemingway would include this bit of information into the story other than to show the difference between the people of France from the people of Spain. I dont belive he put any truth behind it.

Paradox

pg 226 "We watched the beginning of the evening of the last night of the fiesta. The absinthe made everything seem better. I drank it without sugar in the dripping glass, and it was pleasantly bitter." & "You wouldnt believe it. It's like a wondergul nightmare." I think this page contains several examples of paradox. The first..obvious enouhgto understand simply refers to their last night of the fiesta. This example sort of reminds me of the statement "last first day of school"(which will be monday! yay!) it seems like it doesnt really make sense, but if you think about it, it does. Next is the phrase pleasantly bitter. Im not really sure how something could be pleasantly bitter, but that is how Jake describes his ,drink. Finally the last paradox i found on this page describes the overall trip as a wonderful nightmare. As they reflect upon their time in Spain it seems fitting Hemingway described it as a wonderful nightmare. A lot of things took place during their stay in Spain- some good and some bad. Although a lot of bad things happened, they had the time of their life in the end.

Balance

pg 219 "Because they were against Belmonte, the public were for Romero." This sentence shows balance in how it is written as well as in its meaning. Initially the spectators came to the bull fight to watch all of the matadors. However, the audience becomes greatly displeased with Belmontes performance. Therefore they took all of their attention and excitement from Belmonte and put it on Romero. It is balanced in the sense that they are exactly the opposite- the public is against Belmonte / the public is in favor of Romero. Hemingway goes on to say "Belmonte was no longer well enough. He no longer had his greatest moments in the bullring." Romero has now taken Belmontes place.

Bull Fighting

pg 201 "That's it. All for fun. Fun, you understand." I really liked this quote because it summarized my exact feelings. I dont really understand the fascination with bullfighting, and i imagine that many other Americans don't either. It seems so stupid to risk your life for such entertainment. I think Hemingway adds this perspective on purpose. To a lot of people bull fighting is stupid and reckless and dangerous. However, all of the people attending this fiesta dont see it that way at all. These people dont care if they are risking their lives because they are living in the moment. They are happy with life as it is and partying like there is no tomorrow. I truly feel like Bull fighting is not worth risking one's life, but the people in the story make it out to be such a valiant and noble profession. I find it funny how the waiter says its all for fun, because i dont see the fun in being chased around by a bull. That's because it's not for fun- its for honor.