The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway is a book that explores the lives of some people of the "lost generation." Throughout the book Jake has been the peacemaker between the different characters, but he was never able to come to a "personal comfort." Brett constantly sought out Jake for personal comfort throughout the book but never engaged in a relationship with him like she did with all the others. By the end of The Sun Also Rises, Jake reached a personal resolution that plagued him throughout the book about how his injury would not be the only reason why an intimate relationship between him and Brett would never be able to succeed. .
The fact that Brett approached life with a reckless abandon helped Jake realize the fact that the relationship between him and Brett would never succeed. " "How can I stop it? I can't stop things. Feel that?" Her hand was trembling." (187) This quote is when Brett is telling Jake that she is in love with Pedro Romero when she is currently engaged to Michael and on vacation with him. Brett had been with 3 guys in this book previous to Pedro and she keeps on walking aimlessly in life not sure what she plans to do or where she is going.
The fact that Brett was so vulnerable helped Jake realize that it would make the relationship unstable and not work out. "Finally when he got really bad, he used to tell her he"d kill her. Always slept with a loaded revolver. She hasn't had an absolutely happy life, Brett." (207) Brett had a very damaging past with the War and her husband, and this may have destroyed her emotionally. .
Jake realizes that this relationship is somewhat lopsided with Brett always using Jake as a "crutch" but never willing to consider Jake and his feelings. "COULD YOU COME HOTEL MONTANA MADRID AM RATHER IN TROUBLE BRETT." (243) In this quote Brett is requesting that Jake leave his vacation to come find her and help her with her problem.