Nature's Role in "The Sun Also Rises"

          In class, part of what we discussed was how Hemingway uses nature in the The Sun Also Rises. After sharing Quaker style the different nature-specific passages that stuck out to us throughout chapters eleven, twelve, and thirteen, it was clear that nature is a large part of the message that Hemingway is trying to send in the novel. Similar to "Hills like White Elephants", nature serves a greater purpose than a simple description. Hemingway's inclusion of nature may provide hints as to the characters' innermost thoughts and desires or possibly what the reader should take away from the novel.
          Nature plays a key role in chapter twelve. Jake and Bill's fishing trip brought to the two characters to an almost alternate reality. In the passage below, Hemingway describes Jake's experience when he first starts fishing:
          "As I baited up, a trout shot up out of the white water into the falls and was carried down. Before I could finish baiting, another trout jumped at the falls, making the same lovely arc and disappearing into the water that was thundering down. I put on a good size sinker and dropped into the white water close to the edge of the timbers of the dam" (Hemingway, 124).


          Before the fishing trip, the entire novel takes place in cities and involves wild, city lifestyles. When the two friends escape from this possibly harmful way of life and take refuge in the warm air and beautiful water, Jake especially seems to be reborn. I think that this is a turning point for him as a character. He does not have Brett to be distracted by and has no alcohol to numb his feelings. Instead, he and Bill have a "bromance" moment and Jake finally seems temporarily happy. He even uses the word, "lovely". Who is this? Jake is characteristically cynical and suddenly he is using words like "lovely". It seems like nature represents life in the novel because it helps Jake to truly live again.  Unfortunately, Jake's character is one who is not living completely. He is stuck in a rut before and after the fishing trip. Jake is basically along for the ride and pines after Brett from afar. He is obviously in love with her but does nothing because he feels that he is insufficient. In this way, he is letting life pass him by. In contrast, this passage is a sort of recess for Jake's angst and I think that Hemingway wanted for the reader to realize the way that nature temporarily heals Jake.