Brett AND Jake, Never Just Brett
The star-crossed relationship between Lady Brett Ashley and Jake Barnes is arguably the most important in The Sun Also Rises, and its course throughout the novel is similarly important for character development analysis. However, in focusing very narrowly on the characters in this relationship only in terms of their role in it and not their individual personas, we have ignored the character development of them individually, Brett in particular. An important side to Brett Ashley is indeed analyzing her character through her treatment of Jake and the nature of their relationship, but equally as important to shaping Brett’s character is her individual development, her feelings, how her past and experiences have influenced her. Therefore, we need to holistically understand Brett through both her interactions with others important to her life, which is the more common understanding of Brett, and also through the minimal reflection we get to experience Brett having in the novel. Lady Brett A...