Being on one of the most emotionally and physically demanding roller coaster rides these men have probably ever been on, Jake, Mike, Cohn, and Romero get involved with some kind of relationship with Lady Brett Ashley, a sex driven woman who indulges in sex and control. Brett plans to marry her fiancee for dumb reasons, she completely ruins one man's emotional side, she also separates from another man to keep the idea of them being together to prevent self-destruction, and she denies and disgraces the only man who she loves most of all. Brett will take these four men and emotionally discharge them while she "nick and nags" all of them trying to get out exactly what she really wants. Even though she might ruin some mens life, Brett is a "all for one" kind of dating relationship. All of these relationships take place in a period of months while Brett uses each one to satisfy her own needs and wants. .
" The symbolically impotent and necessarily static love affair between Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley exists as a constant, having already begun long before the novel started, and continuing beyond the book and past its ending"(Vance 40). Jake Barnes, the narrator and said to be the hero of the novel, fell in love with Brett a long time ago and is still in love with her despite his being in freak accident while in the war. Jake has to find a way to deal with his impotence and the fact that he has lost all power and desire to have sex. So Brett and Jake can not be lovers, so they find no reason to try at any relationship because Brett is a very passionate woman who needs that in her relationships. .
Jake's disability only puts Jake and Brett in a very ironic situation. Even though they cannot have sex it is still apparent that they have a relationship based on the fact they both desire one another, but they both know there is no sexual part of it. One night in a cab ride home Jake tries to kiss Brett and she says: "You mustn't.
