Why I chose this passage from Chapter 3

"You neither."
"It doesn't make any difference with me. It doesn't make any difference with a woman."
"What are you called?"
"Georgette. How are you called?"
"Jacob."
"That's a Flemmish name."
'American, too."
"You're not Flammand?"
"No, American."
"Good, I deteste Flammands."
By this time we were at the restaurant. I called to the cocher to stop. We got out and Georgette did not like the look of the place. "This is not great thing of a restaurant."
"No," I said. "Maybe you would rather go to Foyot's. Why don't you keep the cab and go on?"
I had picked her up because of a vague sentimental idea that it would be nice to eat with some one. It was a long time since I had dined with a poule, and I had forgotten how dull it could be. We went into the restaurant, passed Madame Lavigne at the desk, and into a little room. Georgette cheered up a little under the food.
"It isn't bad here," she said. "It isn't chic, but the food is all right."
"Better than you eat in Liege."
"Brussels, you mean."
We had another bottle of wine and Georgette made a joke. She smiled and showed all her bad teeth, and we touched glasses.
"You're not a bad type," she said. "Its a shame you're sick. We get on well. What's the matter with you, anyway?"
"I got hurt in the war," I said.
"Oh, that dirty war."
We would probably have gone on and discussed the war and agreed that is was in reality a calamity for civilisation, and perhaps would have been better avoided. I was bored enough.

I chose this passage, which is taken from pages 24 and 25 from The Sun Also Rises, because it delivers a variety of important facts to the reader. It provides large amounts of characterisation, as seen when Georgette insults the Flemmish, and also where Jake mentions about having a sentimental idea about eating with people. This line, in fact, gives us more insight into his character than the rest of the passage, as it lets us know how much his injury has hindered him, and how it has completely changed his life. This is an insight to the character that also helps to explain some of his motivations. One of these motivations, which we see in this passage, is his inviting a woman he meets off the street to eat dinner with him. This shows how he still tries and keeps some semblance of his life before the war, and that he wants to keep living.

Another reason that I chose this passage is because of its value in literary elements. The dialogue is short, and uses little description, and is used simply to get the point of what one character wants to say to the other. Jake doesn't say more than he needs to, even though  Georgette seems to want him to. He only says what he feels is necessary, once again giving us an insight into his character. He is a journalist, and therefore feels that there is no need to mince words. He feels that you just need to get the point across to the reader, or in this case, the listener. The final sentence of the passage gives us a great insight into the character of Jake. It shows us that he is cynical, something that really helps to explain some of his other points.

The casual racism from Georgette at the beginning of the novel not only ages the book, and gives us a point of view into the social climate of the time period, but it also gives us some characterisation of Georgette, the woman who we have only just met, and who we do not see again in the book. It seems strange  that Jake would report on somebody that he only sees once, but it again shows us something about him. He simply reports on what he sees, however insignificant, and states it matter-o-factually, which again harkens back to his training as a journalist. I believe that this passage shows us themes, motifs and important characterisations, and is therefore a very important passage from Book 1.


In her blog, Adrienne uses a passage from Chapter 2, Page 19, and her analysis can be found here She mentions that the passage is different to other passages, in that Jake actually takes an active role in it. I agree with her completely, in this passage Jake shows more emotion, and more activity, which shows that he is quite comfortable in the situation. She mentions that she finds it special because it is different to rest of the book. This is where I disagree with her. Yes, it is rare that we see Jake uses description, or getting actively involved in a scene, but he does it occasionally. He does it when he is interested in the seen, or when he is comfortable. Another instance of this is the stream scene, where Jake is able to be masculine and himself. This once again shows us what effect this scene has on Jake. Jake feels superior to Cohn, and therefore he feels comfortable around him, and able to express himself. This shows us more of Jake's character, and what motivates him. 

Adrienne also mentions how Cohn is always trying to show is masculinity. I once again disagree with her. I believe that Cohn is just being himself, and that Jake shows him in a bad light, as he feels that Cohn doesn't deserve that masculinty.

All in all, I find that Adrienne makes some good points, but quite a few that I disagree with.