Posted by Ritch on August 22, 2002, at 2:07:33
In reply to Role of Cohn??, posted by mair on August 21, 2002, at 8:23:42
> Would anyone care to comment on why Hemingway created a character like Robert Cohn? Was is to show how unobtainable Brett was? Was it a vehicle to demonstrate the anti-semitism of the other characters? Do you think Hemingway is placing a value judgment about anti-semitism, or is he just reflecting the prevailing views of his time? Also, I didn't understand the relationship with Mike and Brett. Everyone accepts that they'll ultimately get married, or at least Jake keeps telling people this, but Mike doesn't seem to be that bothered by Brett's relationship with Cohn or with Romero.
>
> Mair (who finally finished the book)Cohn is impulsive, who has difficulty controlling what he *feels*.
Mike is a cynic that can't control what he *says*.
Jake can't control his fantasies at night that are unfulfillable and that *torment* him.
Brett is in love with Jake only and is tormented, but is it because he is unattainable?The young bullfighter is a "hero" in a sense, in that he is not being tormented and is not suffering from his own human condition. He is immersed in his "ART". But, the older he gets, the more he is likely to be used/promoted/manipulated by others for other ends, and his "aficion" will dwindle and eventually die, an individual human being, that has a great talent, an art, which will slowly be corrupted by time and aging by the market place.
poster:Ritch
thread:548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/634.html