"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife," is a commandment that is almost impossible for people to follow. Jealousy is an emotion that all human beings experience sometime in their life. It has obviously been around forever since it is written about in the bible, such as in the story of Abel and Cane. In this story, jealousy causes a brother to kill a brother. The commandment may be hard to follow, but it is a practical rule. Jealousy is the root of many problems in relationships, and often causes destruction in one's life. In Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, .
Robert Cohn's obsession with Brett Ashley causes him jealousy and mayhem. Before Cohn is under Brett's spell, he has high hopes and is under the impression that he can get anything he works hard for. He wants to be a writer, and a champion boxer, and he accomplishes both of these things. Cohn has confidence, and as a result he believes that he can win Brett over. When Brett sleeps with him, Cohn is undHowever, when he learns of Brett's affair with Pedro Romero, his confidence is broken, and out comes the green giant of jealousy. He calls Jake a pimp for introducing Romero to Brett, and hits him. Cohn hunts down the two lovers, and gives Romero a brutal beating. Later when Cohn apologizes to Jake, he says "I just couldn't stand it about Brett. I've been through hell, Jake. It's been simply hell. I can't stand it anymore."(198) Afterwards Cohn is simply shocked at his own actions. Jealousy overtook him, and killed all the confidence that he once possessed. .
Like Cohn, Jake is also jealous over Brett. However, unlike Cohn, Jake is insecure from the beginning. His impotence causes him to be insecure, and stops him from being with Brett. Jake may be the most jealous character in this novel. Although he isn't driven to the point of insanity such as Cohn, Jake's jealousy is a much deeper sort. Other men, such as Cohn, can give Brett sex, something she can't seem to live without.
