19. Plotline

The structure of the Sun Also Rises is written in three books. The three sort of reflect the literary terms of rising action, climax, and conclusion. However, book two is not just the climax, but rising action and falling action as well. Each book, except the third, typically ends when Brett leaves. At the end of the first book she leaves for San Sebastian and at the end of the second book she leaves with Romero. The ending of each book shows the importance of Brett to Jake, since he is the narrator. It also shows a symbol of the independence women were beginning to test at the time.

As a summary the rising action includes: anecdote of Robert Cohn at Princeton, night life in Paris, the introduction of Jake's relationships with Brett, Cohn, Harvey, and Frances, then, Cohn's affair with Brett and following her to Pamplona with Mike, Bill and Jake's trip to fish, and the beginning of the fiesta with Montoya and Romero.
The climax occurs when Cohn attacks Mike, Jake and massacres Romero and asks for forgiveness. The climax reflects the anecdote at the beginning of the novel which reflects on Cohn's inferiority and taking up boxing as a result.
The falling action/conclusion includes Romero's final bull fight, Brett going with Romero and her choice to leave him, and then Brett and Jake meeting in Madrid, Spain. The conclusion ends rather abruptly, the again, I feel it fits the entire novel. See next post.