You Might Just Get What You Need

Somewhere along your life, if you haven’t already, you will experience a situation in which you work hard for something you desire but in return gain what you need instead. This theme of getting what you need instead of what you want is explored in both The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, and the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones. In The Sun Also Rises, After Jake’s return from the war, he fights to get Brett’s love back, only to discover after spending time with Bill that he is better off on his own without her. In “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” the singer meets a woman and instantly falls in love with her as he begins to run errands for her. By interacting with a man at the pharmacy, the singer realizes that the woman in manipulative and not worth is, so he learns he’d be happier without having her her. In comparison, both The Sun Also Rises and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” apply the theme of getting what you needed instead of what you wanted by using a woman and how the relationship with the women would negatively affect the man.

In both literary works, the male protagonist meets a woman who is at the time both drinking and dancing with another man. In The Sun Also Rises, when Jake arrives at the bar, he sees Brett drinking and dancing around with gay men. Once Jake sees Brett he instantly resumes to have feeling for her as he begins the battle for her love again. In search of what he wanted, Jake has set his mind on winning Brett back throughout the novel. Like Jake, the singer in “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” meets a woman at a reception who is also drinking and dancing with other men. The singer described the woman by saying, “wine in her hand,” and “At her feet was footloose men” (The Rolling Stones 1969). Indicating that the singer was attracted to the woman he said, “I went down to the demonstration to get my fair share of abuse” (The Rolling Stones 1969). By using the language ‘my fair share,’ The Rolling Stones are able to show how the singer has instantly gained interest in this woman after seeing her. Referring to her drinking, The Rolling Stones use the language ‘wine’ to suggest that she like the other men dancing are drunk and happy. Using imagery, The Rolling Stones paint the picture of dancing men around this “woman” by using the language ‘footloose men.’ By describing what the woman in doing in detail, the singer is portrayed to have set his sights on having a relationship with this woman. In both these literary works, the male protagonist has gained a personal interest in a female of his setting and has decided that he wants an emotional connection with that female, as he begins his pursuit of something he wants as opposed to knowing that it’s not something he needs.

Throughout both literary works, the male protagonist interacts with another male character who helps him shift his thoughts about having a relationship with the female of his setting. In The Sun Also Rises, Jake meets up with Bill as they go on a fishing trip they had planned in advance. During this fishing trip, Jakes time spent with Bill helps him discover that their friendship trumps his feelings for Brett, causing only a slight shift in how Jake’s thinks about Brett. Now Jakes is aware that Brett is something he wants and not something he need, as he comprehends the consequences of them having a relationship. Alike Jake, the singer in “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” goes to the Chelsea Drugstore and meets a man named Mr. Jimmy. Consumed by his interest in the woman, the singer tells Mr. Jimmy about the woman he meet, to which Mr. Jimmy replys, “dead” (The Rolling Stones 1969). The singer, interpreting Mr. Jimmy’s response as his opinion towards the outcome of his relationship with the woman, was shocked in a way that slightly pointed him towards the truth behind the possible relationship. After interacting with Mr. Jimmy, the singer learns that his desire for an emotional connection with the woman is only something he wants instead of something that he needs. In resemblance, the male protagonist for both literary works, though the interaction with another male character, have learned that; although their desire for the female protagonist is still strong, she is only something of desire and not somesing of need.

In the end of both literary works, the male protagonist discovers the truth behind the future of his possible relationship with the female of their setting and decide that the relationship is not worth the fight. In The Sun Also Rises, Jake observes how Brett’s relationship with Pedro Romero ruined Pedro and how she only brings negative outcomes to the men in her life. In the final scene of the novel when Brett proposes the idea of them having a relationship, Jake’s response shows that he does not want her and will be better off without her. Satisfied about getting over having Brett, Jake realizes that she was only something he wanted and what he needed was to not have her. Like Jake, the singer in “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” learns the truth behind his possible relationship with the woman when he comes back to the reception: “I saw her today at the reception, In her glass was a bleeding man, She was practiced at the art of deception” (The Rolling Stones 1969). By using the language ‘in her glass, ‘bleeding man,’ and ‘art of deception,’ The Rolling Stones are able to show how the is possessive, manipulative and careless about the men’s feelings that surround her. In the end the tune of the song becomes more upbeat and positive suggesting a feeling of relief and understanding. Happy that he’s learned the truth, the singer repeats the lines, “You can’t always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you just might find, You just might find” (The Rolling Stones 1969), celebrating that he discovered the consequences of the possible relationship just in time to not commit to being with her. Content with not being with the woman, the singer realizes that she was only something he wanted and not something he needed.

In comparison, both literary works explore the idea of desire and need by using a persuasive woman and the consequences of being with her. Through the interaction with a male character, both male protagonists are able to be pointed in the right direction and save themselves just in time before committing to something they didn’t need. As a result its always good to understand the consequences and outcomes of getting something you want, so you are able to know if it’s something you actually need.

“You can’t always get what you want”