The Portrayal of Alcohol in The Sun Also Rises: Alcohol as Socio-Political Commentary and Measurement of Character

Abstract

Although drinking is a central theme in most of Hemingway’s work, many scholars argue that The Sun Also Rises might be the one of his novels in which alcohol has the biggest presence. This essay is a contribution to the discussion about the excessive drinking in the novel. By taking a historical approach and by applying the concept of the Hemingway Hero to the analysis of the novel, this essay will offer a close reading of the symbolism and meaning of the portrayal of alcohol. This essay aim to show that alcohol is used as a tool for sociopolitical commentary and furthermore, as a touchstone by which the integrity of the characters in the novel is measured.