The Sun Also Rises Chapter 4

In the taxi, Jake kisses Brett, but she stops him. She explains that they cannot be lovers, given her desire for sex, something Jake cannot provide. Jake and Brett love each other, but Brett laments the fact that they cannot be together. She feels as though this is a penance she must pay for all of the men’s hearts she has broken. 

Then, Brett asks Jake to kiss her. The two soon arrive at a cafe, planning to drink, when they run into friends. Among them is Zizi, who introduces them to a wealthy Greek, Count Mippipopolous. Count Mippipopolous, like most men, is immediately smitten with Brett. 

Jake and Brett make plans to meet the following day, and Jake goes home.

While laying in bed, Jake ponders his war wound. He believes that others think about it more than he does himself, and recalls a military officer who visited him in the hospital, telling Jake that he had given more than his life. Jake considers that if it were not for Brett, he would have very little concern about his disability. 

At around 4:00 AM, a drunken Brett arrives, being brought there in Count Mippipopolous’ limousine. The count is waiting outside. Brett tells Jake that the count offered her $10,000 to accompany him on a trip to the south of France, but that she had declined his offer. 

Brett tries to convince Jake to get up and join her and the count with more drinking, but Jake declines. He then asks her to stay with him, but she then declines. 

Analysis

Here we learn, more explicitly, that Jake’s war injury expressly prevents him from normal sexual performance. We may assume castration, although this is not specified. We also learn that while Jake and Brett do love each other, it is Brett’s sexual needs are the one thing that prevents them from being in a relationship. This powerful message is seen throughout the book, that of how damaging and destructive sex can be. 

The pain for both Jake and Brett is evident. Jake still has sexual desire, as evidenced by his lustful description of Brett’s beauty. Yet, he cannot fulfill his desires. Brett loves Jake and feels that this cruel twist of fate that renders Jake impotent is her penance for being promiscuous.