Such a realization that death always lurks in the arena serves to be nerve-wracking and enervating for the reader. Furthermore, even though every bullfight ends with a death "whether it is of the matador or of the bull "in most bullfights, it is the bull that falls to the estoques that are plunged into his body. The graphic imagery of a bull perishing in the center of the ring generates a heartfelt sensation of unease within the reader, for such a mental vision proves to be unnerving and troublesome. By immersing themselves into the keenly depicted bullfighting episodes, readers experience a healthy amount of anxiety and fear for the lives of the matador and the bull, while the imminence of death also leads them to contemplate their own mortality. Therefore, the spectacle of bullfighting provides readers with a sense of bewilderment, for the performance is portrayed as both an emotionally draining and disconcerting experience but also as a pleasurable and stimulating art form.
The obscure nature of Lady Brett Ashley's character, which Hemingway develops throughout the course of The Sun Also Rises, provides the reader with a significant amount of pleasure as well as a powerful dose of disquietude. Within the text, Brett is portrayed as a beautiful, independent, and strong woman, who, like the goddess Circe, possesses the ability to completely captivate the minds and hearts of the opposite sex. Additionally, she is portrayed as a woman who is unafraid of exploring her sexual freedom by crossing the threshold between how men and women should behave. Her bobbed hair, masculine name, and self-reliance transcend the status quo of how women conducted themselves in the 20th century; such a characterization thus highlights her distinctiveness as an individual. Hemingway's vivid description of Brett as a powerful, strong, and promiscuous character engenders within the reader a great sense of pleasure and deep admiration for her persona as well as for her enticing qualities.