The Sun Also Rises Chapter 16
Two mornings later, when the bullfights resume, the day dawns foggy and wet. When Montoya expresses concern to Jake about an invitation extended to Pedro by a prominent American, both men agree that this could be a negative influence on Pedro. Jake advises Montoya to simply not deliver the invitation to Pedro. Jake also mentions that there is an American woman here who “collects bullfighters.”
While Jake has dinner with his group, Pedro is at the same place, eating with a bullfighting critic. Brett begs Jake to introduce them to Pedro, which he does by inviting Pedro to the table. All at the table are quite drunk. Brett strikes up a conversation with Pedro, which Montoya observes apprehensively. Montoya ignores Jake. When Pedro leaves, Mike resumes his usual barrage of disparaging remarks aimed at Robert and tells Robert to just go away. Jake believes that Robert secretly enjoys the drama, as it centers around Robert’s affair. Eventually, Jake drags Mike away from the table, to prevent an actual fight from occurring.
On the last day of the fiesta, crowds of American and English tourists descend on the city. While Bill and Mike go off to mingle with them, Brett asks Robert to please go away so that she can spend some time with Jake.
Brett is upset over Mike’s behavior and is also fabulously annoyed by Robert’s clingy habit of following her around everywhere. They two take a walk, and Brett asks if Jake still loves her. He readily confesses that he does, but she responds that she thinks that she is in love with Pedro the bullfighter.
Jake agrees to go with Brett to find Pedro. They find him in a cafe, sitting with other bullfighters. When Pedro accepts the invitation to join Jake and Brett, he knows that there is a mutual attraction between himself and Brett. She flirts with Pedro, and Jake interprets, as he speaks Spanish. Romero explains that the bulls are his best friends, but that he kills his best friends so that they cannot kill him.
Jake leaves briefly, seeing disapproving looks from members of the bullfighting community. When he returns later, Pedro and Brett are gone.
Analysis
Brett has finally fully rejected Robert, even as directly requesting him to leave.
Jake, however, betrays the trust Montoya had placed in him to help protect Pedro from bad influences when he actively assists Brett in her pursuit of Pedro. Brett’s reputation as a maneater is well-deserved, but Jake simply follows Brett’s requests, disregarding the damage it will certainly do to Pedro. Jake seems to pursue a course of punishing himself, by taking an active role in setting her up with another lover.
Mike continues to fume over Brett’s previous involvement with Robert. Tensions rise between the two men.
