The Sun Also Rises Chapter 15
The fiesta officially begins on Sunday. This marks the beginning of seven days of nonstop celebration, including copious drinking, as well as dancing and other revelries centered around the bullfights. Jake’s observation is that things become nearly surreal, as partiers lose all sense of consequence, even as much as forgetting the value of their own money towards the end of the event.
A crowd dances around Brett and wants only Brett to be the center. Then, the group descends upon a wine shop, where dancing and revelry are taking place. All dine and drink there, and Brett is taught how to drink from a wineskin.
Jake slips away to buy a pair of wineskins, but when he returns, he cannot find Robert. Nobody else seems to care, but eventually Jake finds him passed out in a back room. Jake decides to let him sleep it off there. Later, all five dine (and drink more) together, with regular insults directed at Robert by Mike. All of the group continues celebrating into the night, with Jake finally leaving to find his room around 4:00 AM. Unable to find his room key, however, he falls asleep in Robert’s room.
At 6:00 AM, Jake is awakened by the fireworks signaling the running of the bulls. Jake watches from his balcony, then makes his way to the arena. He sits with Bill close to the ring, while Brett, Mike, and Robert sit farther up. Brett is warned not to watch if and when horses are gored, but she disregards this advice. Robert announces that his biggest concern is that he may become bored, a comment which further irritates Mike. He sees this as another example of Robert’s “Jewish superiority.”
Motoya introduces Jake to a young bullfighter named Pedro Romero. Jake notes that this young man is exceedingly handsome, and in the ring, Pedro proves to be a very authentic and skilled bullfighter, despite his age (he is 19 years old).
Later, Brett notes Pedro’s skill and lets it be known that she never turned away from anything. Robert, on the other hand, had difficulty stomaching some of the more violent and gory moments, and Mike mercilessly and relentlessly mocks him for this weakness.
At the next fight, Jake sits with Brett and Mike. Pedro wins over the crowd with his smooth skill and excellent performance. He outshines the other bullfighters, despite their many years of experience, and their notoriety. Mike comments, half-jokingly, that Brett has fallen in love with Pedro, and tells Jake to let Brett know that all bullfighters beat their mothers.
Analysis
The metaphor of the fiesta-goers completely disregarding the value of their money by the end of the fiesta represents Jake’s philosophy on life, in that eventually, one becomes jaded and realizes that there is no such thing as a fair exchange.
War images are frequently hinted at in this chapter, describing many events and scenes using military words, such as describing the cafe as being like a battleship, or the opening ceremony’s rocket blast looking like a shrapnel blast. We are reminded that all members of the party—except for Robert— have a battle experience that bonds them. Robert, again, is painted as an outsider, and the only member of the group who does not drink to bury his wartime memories.
We are introduced to the final major character in the story, Pedro Romero. He exemplifies all that is good, true, decent, and pure. He is worthy of honor, and his integrity guides his actions.
