The Sun Also Rises: Chapter Summaries

Chapters 1-2: Introduction to Jake & Robert Cohn

Jake Barnes introduces Robert Cohn: former Princeton boxing champion, now writer living in Paris. Cohn's girlfriend Frances Clyne controls him. Cohn wants to go to South America after reading The Purple Land (Victorian romance novel Jake mocks). Jake works as journalist, lives in Paris, observes the expatriate scene.

Key moment: Cohn asks Jake if he's sick of Paris and wants adventure. Jake's response reveals their fundamental difference: Jake knows romantic adventure is delusion, Cohn still believes in it.

Chapters 3-4: Brett Ashley Appears

Jake meets Brett at a nightclub with a crowd of gay men. She's engaged to Mike Campbell but clearly has complex relationship with Jake. They go to a café, nearly kiss, but Brett leaves abruptly, unable to be with him because of his war wound. Jake goes home alone, can't sleep, lies awake thinking.

Key moment: "Couldn't we just live together?" Brett asks. "I don't think so. I'd just tromper you with everybody," she answers herself. This exchange reveals their impossible situation.

Chapters 5-7: Brett & Cohn, Frances Departs

Cohn sees Brett and becomes infatuated. He asks Jake to introduce them. Frances, realizing Cohn will leave her, delivers devastating speech exposing his weakness before departing. Cohn goes to San Sebastian; we later learn he has affair with Brett there. Jake feels increasing isolation as his friends pair off or leave.

Key moment: Frances's cruel-but-accurate description of Cohn shows how the group views him: romantic fool who doesn't understand post-war reality.

Chapters 8-9: Fishing at Burguete

Jake and Bill Gorton go fishing in the Spanish Pyrenees before the fiesta. They fish, drink wine, joke around. This interlude shows Jake at peace—male friendship without romantic complication. Simple competence (catching fish) and uncomplicated camaraderie offer temporary respite.

Key moment: Bill jokes about bullfighting being "sort of what we have instead of God"—revealing its function as substitute meaning.

Chapters 10-11: Arrival in Pamplona

Jake and Bill meet Brett, Mike, and Cohn in Pamplona for the San Fermín festival. Tension is immediate: Cohn clearly had affair with Brett and follows her desperately. Mike mocks Cohn brutally. Brett is charming but unstable. The fiesta begins with drinking, dancing, fireworks.

Key moment: Mike's cruelty toward Cohn is explicitly antisemitic: "Tell us that one about the prize-fighter." The group others Cohn for his Jewishness and romantic delusions.

Chapters 12-14: Bullfights & Pedro Romero

The bullfights begin. Jake explains the difference between authentic matadors (like Pedro Romero) and crowd-pleasers (like Marcial). Romero is young, perfect technique, genuine bravery. Brett becomes fascinated with him. Jake, despite knowing it will hurt him to watch, introduces Brett to Romero at her request.

Key moment: Jake's afición (true passion for bullfighting) allows him to recognize Romero's authenticity. But his helping Brett seduce Romero shows how love makes him complicit in his own torture.

Chapters 15-17: Everything Falls Apart

Brett and Romero begin affair. Cohn can't handle watching. Mike continues mocking him: "Why don't you see when you're not wanted?" Cohn finally snaps: he punches Jake, beats up Mike, and knocks Romero down (though Romero keeps getting up). Afterward, Cohn cries and apologizes to everyone. His violence followed by tears is ultimate violation of the code.

Key moment: Cohn's breakdown—punching people then crying—shows what happens when someone can't maintain grace under pressure. His humiliation is complete.

Chapter 18: Final Bullfight & Departure

Despite being beaten by Cohn, Romero fights brilliantly. Brett watches from the stands. After the bullfight, Brett leaves Pamplona with Romero. The group dissolves: Cohn has fled, Mike is broke and bitter, Bill returns to Paris. Jake is left alone in San Sebastian trying to recover.

Key moment: Romero's perfect performance despite injuries demonstrates the code's ideal: maintain excellence regardless of damage.

Chapter 19: Brett's Summons & Final Scene

Jake receives telegram from Brett asking him to come to Madrid. He goes. Brett has left Romero: "I'm not going to be one of those bitches that ruins children." Her only unselfish act is leaving the young bullfighter before her chaos destroys his talent.

They ride in a taxi. Brett says: "Oh, Jake, we could have had such a damned good time together." Jake replies: "Yes. Isn't it pretty to think so?" This famous ending returns them to their starting point: same impossible love, same awareness it's impossible, same bitter acceptance. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change.

Key moment: The final line captures everything—acknowledging the fantasy of happiness while knowing it's impossible. The circular structure shows no progress, no healing, only endless repetition of pain.