《太阳照常升起》的存在主义解读

IIHemingwayreturnedtotheUnitedStates,Agnesendedtherelationship.Determinedtobecomeawriter,HemingwayreturnedtothejournalismfieldandmarriedHadleyRichardsonin1921.Subsequently,heandhisnewwifeimmigratedtoParisand,introducedbySherwoodAnderson,enteredtheParisianliterarycirclewheremanyofthegreatestwritersandartistsgatheredatthattime.DuringhistenureasacorrespondentfortheTorontoStar,helearnedwritingskillsfrommanywriterssuchasAnderson,EzraPound,GertrudeSteinandJamesJoyce.DuringhistimeinParis,Hemingwayestablishedhimselfasamasterofshortstories.In1926,hepublishedhisfirstfull-lengthnovel,TheSunAlsoRises,whichachievedgreatsuccess.ErnestHemingway’sTheSunAlsoRiseshaslongbeencanonizedasaquintessentialportraitofthe"LostGeneration,"yetitsexistentialundercurrents—thecharacters’confrontationwithameaninglessuniverseandtheirstruggletoassertagency—demandadeeperphilosophicalexcavation.Setagainstthebackdropofpost-WorldWarIEurope,whereshatteredidealsmirrorthecollapseofmetaphysicalcertainties,thenovel’sprotagonistswanderthroughaworldstrippedofdivineorder,moralclarity,andcoherentpurpose.REF_Ref6196\r\h[1]Whiletraditionalscholarshipoftenframestheirdisillusionmentasahistoricalsymptomofwartrauma,thispapercontendsthatHemingway’snarrativeoperatesasaprofoundexistentialistallegory,whereinJakeBarnes,BrettAshley,andtheircohortembodyAlbertCamus’s"absurdman"—condemnedtoseekmeaninginauniversethatoffersnone,yetdefiantlycraftingdignitythroughritual,choice,andrebellion.TheexistentialistlensrevealshowHemingway’ssparseproseandsymboliclandscapes—thesterileParisiancafés,thechaoticfiestaofPamplona,theritualizedviolenceofbullfighting—functionasmetaphorsforthehumancondition.Jake’sphysicalimpotence,farfrombeingmerelyawarwound,symbolizestheexistentialimpotenceofmodernhumanity:adisabilitytoconnectauthenticallyinaworlddevoidoftranscendentalvalues.Brett’sserialromanticentanglements,meanwhile,echoSartrean"badfaith,"assheoscillatesbetweentheillusionoffreedomandtheslaverytodesire.EventhebullfighterPedroRomero,oftenromanticizedasaHemingwayesque"codehero,"canbereinterpretedasaCamusianfigurewhoembracestheabsurdityofdeathbychargingtowarditwithconsciousartistry.Thisstudychallengestheprevailingcriticalnarrativethatreducesthenoveltoachronicleofgenerationaldespair.Instead,itpositsthatHemingway’scharacters,throughtheirverypersistenceindrinking,traveling,andlovingdespitefutility,enactwhatCamustermed"metaphysicalrebellion":arefusaltosuccumbtonihilism,evenwhentranscendenceisimpossible.Byinterrogatingthetextthroughkeyexistentialistparadigms—includingKierkegaard’s"leapoffaith,"Nietzsche’s"willtopower,"andCamus’s"mythofSisyphus"—thisanalysisuncoversaradicalsubtext:thesunthat"alsorises"isnotmerelyacyclicalsymbolofindifferentnaturebutacalltohumanaudacity,urgingindividualstocreatemeaningwherenoneisgiven.REF_Ref6617\r\h[2]ThetraditionalacademicinterpretationofHemingway'sTheSunAlsoRisesmostlyfocusesonthehistoricaltraumaofthe"LostGeneration",themodernityfissionofgenderethicsorthecivilizedmetaphorofthemythologicalprototype,butrarelytouchesuponitsdeepexistentialphilosophicalcore.Thistheoreticalblindspothasledtotheinterpretationofthetextremainingatthelevelofsocialpathologyforalongtime,failingtorevealthepioneeringexplorationofthecharactersinHemingway'sworkstoreconstructthemeaningofexistenceinnothingness.Thisarticletakesexistentialistphilosophyasthetheoreticalframework,re-examinestheabsurdcircumstances,freechoicesandresistancepracticesofthecharactersinthenovel,andattemptstoprove:Hemingway,throughtheimagesof"anti-heroes"suchasJackBarnesandBrettASHLEY,prefiguredthecorepropositionofexistentialismearlierthanphilosopherslikeSartreandCamus-inameaninglessworld,howcanpeopleendowtheirownexistencewithdignitythroughactions?1TheoreticalFoundation1.1OriginandDevelopmentofExistentialismspreadthroughouttherestofEimpactonthedevelopmentofexistentialism.TheunprecedentedupheavaEuropeanstolosefaithintheWesternpoliticalphilosophyestabliEnlightenment,theybecamedoubtfulaboutthepre1.2Jean-PaulSartre’sExistentialismUndertheinfluenceofHegel'sdialecticsandHusserl'smaterialisticmethod,SartredividesexistenceintotwocatewithHusserl's"JeandMoi"astheintermediatetransition.Thespontaneousprocessofpureconsciousnessathatisrevealedbytheprocessofconsciousness.REF_Ref1483\r\h[5]Althoughthetwoconceptsappearedinoppositedirections,theycanbeconsideredastheantithes"Being-in-itself"referstotheobjectiveexistenceoftheexternalworld.Thisisanunconsciousexistencefromwhichtranscendencecannotbefound.FromSartre'sperspective,theworldthatexistsfreelyisabsurdandfullofcontingency.Peopleinitfeeluncomfortableandanxiousbutcannotgetridofit.Ontheotherhand,"Being-in-itself"canberegardedashumanconsciousnessorconsciousexistence.Itisnothingness,atranscendentexistence,alwaysfleeingthepresentandmovingforwardtowardsitsownpossibilities.Andsomethingsthathavenotyetbecome.Being-for-itself,throughitselfasamedium,strivestomergewithbeing-in-itselfandisthuscontaminatedbyakindof"facticity"."Factual"referstoallgivensituations,suchasnationality,gender,age,family,race,andourpastchoices.Thetasteoffactsisaperson'srevelationofhisownbodyandalsotherevelationoftheinescapableconnectionbetweenhimandtheself-existent.Thisistheprocessofdiscoveringthatself-beingandself-beingarecloselyconnectedinonebeing.Atthesametime,self-beingisatranscendencebeingorafreebeing,and"transcendence"meanstheattitudeorconsciousnessofhowhumansdealwiththese"giventhings".Insummary,self-existenceisacombinationof"factual"and"transcendent",andfreedomandcontextareitstwofundamentalelements.Humansperpetuallyquestiontheirbeingduetoaninnervoid.Thisvoidencompassesnihilisticandnegativeaspects,whichcanreadilyinducedistress.Weconstantlyregressourcurrentstatetoafragmentofourhistory,creatingaparadoxofbeingandnotbeingsimultaneously.Thesefactorsmerelycontributetothedistressofmankind.Giventheincompletenatureofexistencefortheself,humansarepredestinedtoexperiencedistress,anditisanaturalpartofourexistence.Humansattempttoevadethisdistressthroughself-deception.ThephilosopherJean-PaulSartrereferredtothisasmauvaisefoi,orbadfaith—thetendencytodeludeoneselfintobelievingonelacksthefreedomtochoose,outoffearofthepossibleoutcomes.Byadheringtothesecure,uncomplicated,default"choice"andoverlookingthemultitudeofotheroptionsavailable,anindividualbecomesmoreobject-likethanasentientbeing.ThestartingpointofSartre'sexistentialistphilosophyis"nothingness".In"BeingandNothingness"(1943),heproposed"Existenceprecedesessence",negatinganytranscendentalmeaningordivineorder,andthrowinghumanityintotherealmofabsolutenothingness.Thiskindofnothingnessisnotanemptynegativestate,butafundamentalnegationofitsownexistencebyconsciousness(beingforitself,pour-soi).REF_Ref1670\r\h[6]Consciousnessisnothingness:Consciousnessexistsbyconstantlynegatingthepresentstate(suchas"Iamnotmypast"),anditsessenceisto"becomewhatitisnot".Thiseternalself-transcendencemakesitimpossibleforhumanbeingstobefixedassomekindof"essence"andthusbesuspendedinnothingness.Therootoffreedom:Nothingnessbestowsabsolutefreedomuponhumanity.Ifthereexistsanestablishedessence(suchas"humannatureisinherentlygood"),freedomwillbecomeanillusion.Onlyinnothingnesscanhumanbeingscreatethemselvesthroughchoice.Sartredescribedthementalstateoffacingnothingnessas"Anguish":anindividualstandingattheedgeofaclifftremblesattherealizationthathemightjumpoffatanymoment-thisshudderingispreciselytheweightoffreedomitself.Nothingnessthusbecomestheontologicalconditionofhumanexistence,beingboththesourceofdespairandthebeginningofpossibility.Theinevitableproductofnothingnessis"Absurd".SartrerefusedtheCamus-style"reconciliationwithabsurdity",butregardedabsurdityasthebattlefieldwherefreedomconflictswiththemeaninglessworld.Thevacuumofvalue:InauniversewithoutGodoreternaltruth,allsystemsofmeaning(morality,religion,science)arefictionalbyhumanity.Forinstance,in"Nausea",Logandiscoveredthatexistenceitselfismerelyastickyandaimlesscoincidence.Sartrebelievedthatabsurdityisnottheendpointbutacatalystforaction.ThematadorRomeroin(TheSunAlsoRises)confrontstheviolentaestheticofdeathwithaclearconsciousness,preciselyconfrontingthesymbolofabsurdity-heknowsthatdeathisinevitable,yetstillendowsthemomentwithdignitythroughartistickilling.REF_Ref2003\r\h[7]Toescapetheoppressionofnothingnessandabsurdity,humanbeingsfallinto"BadFaith"-themostcriticalconceptinSartre'sphilosophy.Self-deceptionistheself-denialoffreedom,anditscoreis"regardingoneselfasanobject"(en-soi)toevaderesponsibility.REF_Ref2489\r\h[8]Self-deceptionisapoorimitationofnothingnessbyhumannature.Itstragedyliesinthefactthatevenindeception,peoplestillsecretlyknowoftheexistenceoffreedom.TheultimatepropositionofSartre'sphilosophyis"self-fulfillingexistentialvalue"-endowingoneselfwithmeaningthroughfreeactioninnothingness.Thisprocessinvolvesthreeethicaldimensions:Theabsolutenessofchoice:Existentialismisnotapessimisticphilosophybutaphilosophyofaction.Sartreemphasizedin"ExistentialismisaHumanitarianism":"Manisnothingbutself-shaping".Whenasoldierchoosestofightorflee,thereisnopriorrightorwrong,butthechoiceitselfdefinesthenatureofaherooracoward.Theuniversalizationofresponsibility:Everychoiceimpliesacommitmenttoallmankind.WhenIdecidedtogetmarried,Isimultaneouslyadvocatedthatmarriageshouldbecomeauniversalinstitution.Thefreedomoftheindividualisthusinseparablefromcollectiveethics.Engagement:Inhislateryears,SartreturnedtoMarxismandproposedthatfreedomshouldbeachievedthroughsocialstruggle.Liketheresistorsintheanti-colonialmovement,theyelevatedindividualfreedomtogroupliberationthroughconcreteactions.Thevalueofself-fulfillmentliesnotintheoutcomebutinthepostureofaction.Eveninfailure-suchasSisyphus'eternalstonepushupthemountain-humanitystillconfirmeditsexistenceinarebelliousmanner.Sartre,startingfromnothingnessandusingfreedomasaweapon,revealedthecrueltruthandloftypossibilitiesofhumanexistence.2FacingNihilityinAbsurdWorldHemingway'slifewasdeeplymarkedbyWorldWarI.Thewarnotonlywoundedhisbodybutalsoleftirreparablewoundsinhisheart.Heincorporatedthesepersonalexperiencesintohiswritingandcreatedhisfirstsignificantfull-lengthnovel,TheSunAlsoRises.Theimpactofwaronhumanityiscomprehensive.Itnotonlydestroyspeople'sbodiesbutalsotheirspirits,leavingbehindirreparablewounds.REF_Ref2685\r\h[9]ThisnoveltellsthedailylifeofagroupofyoungpeoplefromEuropeandAmericawhofledtoParisafterthewar.Throughtheirstories,thenovelrevealstheirinnerstruggles,includingtheiraversiontowar,pessimismanddeeppain.Thisisastoryaboutthelossoflove,idealsandbeliefs.Theworldinthenovelischaotic,andexistentialistscallitthe"absurdworld".Theythinkthattheworldlacksorderandregularity.AsPhilipYoungpointedout,"TheworlddepictedbyHemingwayisaworldwherethingsdonotgrow,donotbearfruit,butexplode,destroy,decayorbeswallowedup".REF_Ref2829\r\h[10]Thissenseofabsurdityismainlyreflectedinaspectssuchastheirrationalityandchaosoftheworld,thealienationofhumanbeings,andthenothingnessoflife.ThegoalofthischapteristorevealtheabsurdworlddepictedinTheSunAlsoRisesandthespiritualvoiditreflects.2.1The1920scanberegardedasthesecondRenaissanceperiodofAmericanliterature.Thisperiodliesbetweentwomajorhistoricalevents:WorldWarIandtheGreatDepression.Thewarhadthemostprofoundimpactonthisperiod.ThebeliefsystemintheWesthaslastedforthousandsofyears,coveringreligion,reasonandmorality.However,justasNietzscheclaimedthatGodwasdead,wardestroyedthemoralsystemandrevealedthehypocrisybehindtheso-calledreason,andthetraditionalvaluesystemofmankindcompletelycollapsed.Theentiresocietywasplungedintoanatmosphereofdespair,andpeoplelackedgoalsandmoralstandards.SincenoGodorsciencecansaveus,humanityhasencounteredabsurdityorbroughtabsurdityintotheworldtounderstandit.Absurditythusbecomesthekeywordintheantagonisticrelationshipbetweenhumanbeingsandtheworld.Sincethebirthofhumanity,hehasinevitablybeenthrownintoaworldfullofirrationality,chaosandcontingency,wherehumanityenduresanxietyandisolation.Theyhavenowheretorun.Theonlythingtheycandoistocopeandsurviveinthisabsurdworld.JustasSartrepointedout,"Theworldisabsurdandlifeispainful".ExistentialistAlbertCamuswasthefirsttousetheterm"absurdity"todiagnosethehumanconditioninaworldofdecadentbeliefs.AccordingtoCamus,theword"absurdity"implieshowhumanbeingsviewtheenvironment.Itindicatesthathumanlifeisaimlessandoutofharmonywiththesurroundingenvironment.Healsoemphasizedthatinahostileworld,peoplewouldfeelalienatedfromothers.Absurdityistheprimitiveperceptionoftherealworldbyhumanbeings.Intheeyesofthecharacters,theworldisabsurd.Wecandirectlytellfromtheirwordshowtheyviewthisworld.Forinstance,GeorgesofPurlethoughtPariswasexpensiveanddirty,butwhenJackaskedher,"Whydon'tyouchangeplaces?"Atthattime,herreplywas,"It'sthesameeverywhere".Thisanswershowsherdissatisfactionwiththeentirehumansociety.ThenshecomfortedJack,saying,"Everyoneisill,andsoamI."REF_Ref3051\r\h[11]ThissentencebyGeorgeshowsusastrangeworld,inwhichnoonecanescapeabsurdityandeveryonefeelssick.Absurdityisalsoconveyedthroughthecharacters'futilepursuitoflove.Asthecorefemalecharacterinthebook,Brettisrelatedtoalmostallthemalecharacters,namelyJack,Cohen,Mike,Romeroandsomeothercharactersthatappearbriefly.However,noneoftheserelationshipsendedinsuccessorhappiness.Nooneinthebookcanobtaintheideallove.Nomatterhowmuchefforttheyputintotherelationship,theycannotgettheexpectedresult.TheirentanglementisjustasCamusputit:"Themoreyoulove,thestrongerthesenseofabsurditybecomes."Twocasuallymentionedeventscanalsoconfirmtheabsurdityoftheworld.Forexample,Jackreceivedaweddinginvitation,buthedidn'tevenknowthebrideandgroom.Theymusthavedistributeditalloverthetown.Thisisunbelievable,butitdidhappen.AnotherincidentoccurredduringBillGordon'sjourneyinVienna.Ablackmandefeatedalocalwhiteboyinaboxingmatch.However,hewasthrownintoachairandevenlosthisclothesinthechaos.Finally,notonlydidhenotreceivethemoneyhedeserved,buthewasalsoprosecutedforbreachingthecontractbecausehecouldn'tdefeattheViennaboyinVienna.Thisisasharpsatireofracialinjusticeinahighlycivilizedsociety.statusofthegroupofyoungpeopleexpconversationbetweentheauthorandGertrudMoveableFeast:"Allofyoutheyoungpeoplewhoservedinthewar.Youarealostgeneration.""Really?"Isaid."Youare."sheinsisted,"Youhavenorespectforanything,youdrinkyoursFromthedialogueabove,it'sevidentthatthe"LostGeneration"possessesthreedistincttraits:Tobeginwith,theyhaveexperiencedwar,secondly,theyholdcontemptforall,andfinally,theyindulgeinheavydrinking.ThestoryistoldbyJake,theprotagonist,whorecountsthelivesandromantictalesofhiscontemporarieslivingasexpatriatesinParis,lackinganyclearpurposeinlife.Fortheseindividuals,thepastisindelible,thefutureappearsbleak,andthepresentisfilledwithdespair.Theycanonlystrive,vacillate,anddriftaimlesslyintheshadows.JustaswhatBillsaysaboutJake:"Youareanexpatriate.You'velosttouchwiththesoil.Yougetprecious.FakeEuropeanstandardshaveruinedyou.Youdrinkyourselftodeath.Youbecomeobsessedwithsex.Youspendallthetimetalking,notworking.Youhangaroundcafés".TheExistentialistterm"nihilism"or"nothingness"isintroducedbyHeideggertoindicateself-understandingandworld-understanding.Itsuggeststhenegationofmeaningfulaspectsoflife,holdingthatlifeiswithoutpurpose,objectivemeaning,orintrinsicvalue.REF_Ref3609\r\h[13]Italsoreferstoamoodofdespair,apointlessperceptionofexistence.Duringtheeraafterthewar,thiskindofawarenessismorelikelytoemergeduetothechaosanddisorderoftheworld.Fromthehistoricalpointofview,waristherootofallevil,whichbringsaboutallthatmisery.Atremendousletdownsweptthesocietyafterthewar.Peoplewereinspiredbytheidealofmakingtheworldsafefordemocracy,butonlytofinditabiglie.Idealismandromanticnotionssuchasheroismandpatriotismwhichspurredthemintothewarevaporatedinfaceofitsdisastrouseffects.Excitementandenthusiasmwerereplacedbydisillusionment.Thedevastatingimpactofthewaronthegenerationleadstoanattitudeofcontemptforeverything.Namely,thelossofreligiousfaith,abittersatireontraditionalnotionsofwarheroes,agameattitudetolove,andcontemptforthingsorpeoplethatdeserveadmirationandrespectincommonsenseThethirdcharacteristicofthe"LostGeneration"isalcoholabuse.Alcoholiseverywhereintheirlives.Theyrelyonittonumbthemselvesandforgetthepain.WhethertravelinginParisorSpain,drinkingalcoholisthetoppriorityforthem.Thisalsoreflectstheircontemptforthelaw,especiallyProhibitionintheUnitedStates.Theydrinkalcoholindifferentbars,cafesandrestaurantsatanytimeoftheday.TakeBrettforexample,wecangettoknowheraddictiontoalcoholthroughthecount'swords:"Youarealwaysdrinking,mydear.Whydon'tyoujusttalk?".Anotherdirectdescriptioninthebookisthat"Mikewasabaddrunk.Brettwasagooddrunk.Billwasagooddrunk.Cohnwasneverdrunk".REF_Ref4027\r\h[14]Travellingisanotherformofentertainmentforthem.Thebookbrieflymentionsseveraltrips,suchasBrett'striptoSebastian,Cohen'striptoHendeyandBill'striptoVienna.ThetriptoSpainforfishingandwatchingtheBullfightingfestivaloccupiesanimportantpositioninthebookandisdescribedindetail.Forthisgroupofpeople,travelingisnotonlyforentertainment,butalsotorelievepain.TakeJackasanexample.Throughthesensorystimulationandexperiencesduringtheadventurejourney,suchasfishingandwatchingbullfighting,hecantemporarilyforgetthepainfulexperiencesandregainhiscourageandthestrengthofaman.Thiskindofexiledlifeisextremelyabnormalanddoesnotbelongtothesocializedgroup.Inthiscase,theynolongeractivelyassumesocialresponsibilities.Withthecollapseofvaluesandbeliefs,theyindulgedinalcoholandcaffeine.Menbecame"useless"andwomenlosttheirfemininetraits.Beneaththesurfaceofthedecadentlifedepictedbytheauthor,wecanseethespiritualemptinessofthepost-wargenerationandthedisintegrationofcivilizedsociety.3ConfusingBadFaithwithSelf-actualizationAsmentionedinthepreviouschapter,thecharacter,againsttheabsurdbackdropofthepost-warsociety,presentsalifestatewithoutideals.However,theirtrueandhiddenselvescanbediscoveredbeneaththesurfaceoftheirlostpersonalities.Theirexcessiverelianceonalcoholandpleasurepartlystemsfromtheirinabilitytoadapttopost-warsociallife.Thesebehaviorsreflectanextremepassivity.Thisisnotduetotherejectionofsocialresponsibility,butbecausetheblowbroughtbythewartothemistooheavy,makingitdifficultforthemtorecoverquickly.REF_Ref5066\r\h[15]Theybothdenyandbelittleeverything,andattempttoreconnectwiththe"land"theyhavelostcontactwith,andareunabletocompletelyabandonthetraditionalvaluesandbeliefsdeepintheirhearts.Overall,thecharactersinthetextliveinanunstablestatewherepositiveandnegativevaluesareintertwined.Thereareironicdifferencesbetweenexpectationandreality,intentionandaction,appearanceanddepth.Theyseemtobetheembodimentofparadoxes.3.1DistortedHumanityFromSartre'sexistentialistpointofview,man'sexistenceisconfrontedwithestablishedfactsandatthesametimewithinfinitepossibilities,itisalwaysinsuchastateofwhatisandmeanwhilewhatisnot.Theyaretrappedinapredicamentwhichleadstotheiranguish.Inordertoescapefromthiskindofanguish,theymayturnto"badfaith"forhelp.Sartre,therepresentativefigureofexistentialistphilosophy,putforwardaprofoundviewpointthathumanbeingsmustbeartheentireweightoffreedomintheabsurdrealworld.Heemphasizedthateveryonehastheresponsibilitytorecognizethatanymeaninginlifeisnotpredestinedbutneedstobediscoveredandendowedbyyourself.REF_Ref17155\r\h[16]Ifyouchooseapathsetforyoubyothers,whetheritisguidedbyyourteachers,thegovernmentorreligiousleaders,thenyouareactuallylivinginastateof"badfaith".Inthisstate,itseemsasifyouhaveburiedyourheadinthesand,deceivingyourselfintobelievingthatthereexistsmeaningintheoutsideworldthatyouhavenevergiven.REF_Ref17279\r\h[17]Sartrefurtherelaboratedthatthiskindof"badbelief"isactuallyanactofevadingfreedom.Itstemsfromthefearoffreechoice,becausefreechoicemeansresponsibility.Whenyouchoosetofollowothersratherthanthinkbyyourself,youareactuallyevadingthisresponsibilityandchoosingalifestylethatseemseasybutisactuallymuchheavier.Becausewhenyouarenotresponsibleforyourownlife,youalsogiveupthepowertoshapeyourowndestiny.AccordingtoSartre'sview,"badbelief"isapassiveescapefromtheinherentconflictbetweeninnerself-transcendenceandfactionality."Thiskindofevasioncaneasilyleadtopurefactualnature,whichiscloselyrelatedtoitssituation,orresultinextremeself-transcendence,beingoverlyattachedtooneself.Insuchcircumstances,apersonwillbecomesomethingpre-determinedtoescapeallkindsofuncertainties,orturnintoapuretranscendencetoevadeallkindsofrestrictionsandcriticisms.Bothtypesofdishonestycanleadtoadistortedself,therebycreatingadistortedhumanitywithinoneself.InTheSunAlsoRises,thepredicamentsfacedbythelostgenerationarediverse,buttheyhaveonethingincommon,thatis,thetraumaofwar.Facingthepost-warwasteland,theyweretrappedintheroleofwarvictims,indulginginalcoholabuseandotherformsofhedonismtoevadetheresponsibilityoffreedom.Thisisactually"dishonesty",whichhasledtothedistortedhumanityofthe"Lostgeneration",manifestedinthattheyknowexactlywhattheywant,butacttheopposite.Jack'sdistortedhumanityismainlyreflectedinhisloveentanglementwithBrett.Theharmcausedbythewarpreventedhimfromestablishinganormalrelationshipwithhislover.AlthoughhehaddeepfeelingsforBrett,theycouldn'tlivetogether.Afterbeingrejectedmanytimes,especiallyafterhisfutilerequestforhertogoandliveinthecountrysidetogether,hebegantoaccepthisimageasapowerlessmanandstoppedpursuingherlove.However,thisattitudeofself-deceptionfailedtotrulyalleviatehispain.Hesufferedfrominsomniaandevencriedloudlyatnight.It'seasytobeindifferenttoeverythingduringtheday,butit'squitedifferentatnight.REF_Ref17828\r\h[18]Facedwithherentanglementswithdifferentmen,Jakeissoanguishedintheheartbuthastopretendnottocare.WecanseeitfromhisdialoguewithBrettbeforethetriptoPamplona."IsRobertCohngoingonthistrip?""Yes.Why?""Don'tyouthinkitwillbeabitroughonhim?""Whyshouldit?""WhodoyouthinkIwentdowntoSanSebastianwith?""Congratulations""Whatdidyousaythatfor?""Tdon'tknow.Whatwouldyoulikemetosay?"REF_Ref17981\r\h[19]REF_Ref2829\r\hToavoidtouchinguponhis"castration"issue,hebecameBrett'ssafehaven,alwaysreadytocareforandcomforther,andofferahelpinghandwhensheneededit.HepassivelypanderedtoBrett'srequestsandgraduallylosthisdominanceinlove.Inthisdilemmaof"self-deception",hewasdeeplyMiredinthequagmireof"livingforothers"andfailedtoproperlyreconciletheconflictbetweenthesubjectiveselfandtheobjectiveself.ThisisinaccordancewithSartre'sviewoftheother:"themomenttheotherlooksatme,Iamobjectifiedandceasetobeaself-existentbeing.Ibecomeanobjective"self"suchasathingandbecomeabeingotherthantheIintheworld".REF_Ref21508\r\h[20]That'sthereasonwhyIfeelpainfulandconfusedunderthegazeofothers.Cohenalwaysdeniesthefactualnatureofhisownexistenceandisobsessedwithhispuretranscendence.HisJewishidentityledtodiscriminationagainsthimduringhiscollegeyears.TocombathissenseofinferiorityasaJew,hepracticedboxinghard.Despitehavingnointerestinit,heoncewonthemiddleweightboxingchampionship.Facingsetbacksinlove,whetheritwashisfirstmarriageorhisrelationshipwithFrancis,hefantasizedabouttakingawonderfultriptoSouthAmericatoescaperealityandpur