La Douleur Exquise

“La douleur exquise” is defined as the heart wrenching pain of wanting someone unattainable. This phrase directly relates to the novel The Sun Also Rises because many characters experience this “douleur exquise” throughout their adult lives. Jake, the narrator, Cohn, a friend of Jake’s and Brett, another friend, all seem to be unsatisfied with their love life. This theme shapes many of the events that occur in the book and the attitudes people have towards others. The theme of unfulfilled love occurs frequently throughout the story, and it specifically pertains to three characters: Jake Barnes, Robert Cohn, and Lady Brett Ashley.
Jake Barnes experiences unfulfilled love because he cannot be with his one true love, Brett Ashley. Jake tries his best to make things work with Brett even though things seem to be going downhill. While they are riding in a car together, he asks, “‘Couldn’t we just live together, Brett? Couldn’t we just live together?’ ‘I don’t think so. I’d tromper you with everyone… It’s my fault, Jake. It’s the way I’m made’” (Hemingway 62). Jake is trying to hold onto anything that Brett gives him, but nothing ever works out. Jake was injured in the war, and the significance of his injury is that he is no longer able to be sexually active. By using the word ‘tromper’ Brett means that she would cheat on him all the time, and she knows he would be hurt by that. Another reason Jake is hurt by his unfulfilled love for Brett is the fact that he knows they would be perfect together. There is another scene where Jake and Brett are in a car together at the end of the book. Brett says to Jake, “‘Oh Jake… we could have had such a damned good time together’” (Hemingway 205). Jake responds by saying, “Yes… Isn’t it pretty to think so?” (Hemingway 205). Jake and Brett go through alot together throughout the course of the novel. Jake is always there for Brett when she needs a friend, and they spend quite a bit of time together as well. It pains Jake when Brett says that they ‘could have had such a damned good time together’ because if his injury did not happen, they could have been together the whole time. Jaks response to Brett’s comment seems to be sarcastic. He seems annoyed that it took Brett that long to realize they were perfect for each other. He could also be mad because Brett was with countless other men, and she cannot be with him because of something that he did not have much control over. He did not chose to have that specific war injury, it just happened. Another person whose love is unfulfilled because of Lady Brett Ashley is Robert Cohn.
Robert Cohn tries so hard to make Brett love him, but it never works out. Eventually he becomes very annoying and the whole group of friends turn on him. They say that he is unwanted and he should leave Spain. Jake describes Cohn’s reaction to this saying, “Cohn stood up and took off his glasses. He stood waiting, his face shallow, his hands fairly low, proudly and firmly waiting for the assault, ready to do battle for his lady love” (Hemingway 182). Robert has a fantasy-like love for Brett, and he thinks that it will end like a fairytale: with him getting the girl. This idea is expressed in the phrase, ‘ready to do battle for his lady love.’ This wording reminds the reader of medieval times where a knight in shining armor would mount a horse and battle against another man to win the love of a woman. After the many attempts to try and win Brett’s love, the group of friends in Spain get very annoyed. One example comes when he decides to stay with Brett and Jake after Mike and Bill leave, Brett snaps on Cohn. She says, “ ‘Oh don’t… For God’s sake, go off somewhere. Can’t you see Jake and I want to talk?’ ” (Hemingway 184). Once Cohn leaves, she says to Jake, “Was I rude enough to him?“ and “My God! I’m so sick of him!” (Hemingway 184). Before this, it was usually Mike, Jake, and Bill who talked bad about Cohn and his behavior. Now Brett has had enough as well. She gets mad at Cohn for trying to invade her privacy, and tells him to get lost. Once he leaves, she tells Jake how she feels about him. Brett does not want to put up with Cohn either. Cohn’s love for Brett is unfulfilled because of the rejection he experiences. He eventually leaves the fiesta in Spain early; consequently, he is never heard from again. Both Jake and Cohn go after the same woman and their love is unfulfilled. Ironically that woman, Brett Ashley, also has her love unfulfilled.
Lady Brett Ashley’s love seems to be unfulfilled because of the lack of commitment she has to one man. Throughout the story, Brett keeps moving on from guy to guy. Her love life must be unfulfilling if she cannot stay with one man. In the beginning, she likes Jake, then she goes of with Cohn. She and “the count” seem to be having an affair while she is engaged to a man named Mike. Even though she is going to marry Mike, she meets a Spanish bullfighter named Romero while they are at the fiesta and then goes away with him after the fiesta concludes. Her love with these men must be unfulfilling because of how fast she moves on. It is obvious that what the men do not give her the love she expects. One reason that this feeling of unfulfilled love could come to Brett is because of her past relationship. While in Spain, Mike explains to Bill and Jake that Brett was in an abusive relationship before meeting him. He told them that her ex-husband “Always made her sleep on the floor. Finally, when he got really bad, he used to tell her he’d kill her. Always slept with a loaded service revolver” (Hemingway 206). There was no real love in this relationship. Brett was pressured to stay with this man. This could be a reason why she does not stay with one man for too long. She is traumatized by past events, and she is afraid to show true love because of the way her past has been.
In conclusion, unfulfilled love is a common theme throughout the book, with many characters experiencing it first hand. Jake, Cohn, and Brett are never satisfied with their love life, and it pains them over the course of the story. Jake and Cohn do not get their love, Brett Ashley, and Brett herself does not have her love fulfilled either. She moves on from man to man in search of true love. These circumstances shape the way these characters act and are interpreted.