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Zahra Nur Fadilah

180410140027
Class B

The Change of The Components in Ernest Hemingways Novel "The Sun Also Rises"
According to Lucie Guillemette and Cynthia Lvesque in their essay Narratology, they use
Genettes theory, there are three kinds of focalization. One of these focalizations which will be
discussed in this paper is external focalization. Several features of external focalization are
narrators role becomes a camera lens, he cannot suppose the deep characteristic of the character
which presents in the story, and his perception is limited by his seeing. Therefore, he can only
describe what he sees. In this essay, I will discuss about the change and the comparison of the
components in Hemingways novel "The Sun Also Rises". These changes of this story may
influence the narrators perspective about several things. It can appear the disruptive situations in
surrounded narrator.

The intrinsic elements that will be discussed in this paper are the way of narrator orders the story
or the perspective of the narrator, characters, and setting. In the novel "The Sun Also Rises", Jake
Barnes positions himself to be the camera lens. He can only convey the events and features of
characters which are seen. The changes can be catched when the narrator tells the story. As his
role, Barnes becomes narrator that the type is external focalization. Nevertheless, in the
beginning of the novel, the focalization of first and second chapter seems like internal
focalization. I refer to genettes theory that internal focalization is the knowledge of the narrator
is limited on focal character. In these chapters, Barnes only tells his perspective about Robert
Cohn. As if Cohn becomes a focal character in this novel. It can be seen from first sentence of
the first paragraph Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of
Princeton.(Hemingway, 2002). It can also be seen in other sentences. He tells about how the
sense of Robert Cohn about boxing, how Cohns father is wealthy, and how Cohns family
about. Robert Cohn is impressed nice person in these chapters as Barnes statement He was a
nice boy, a friendly boy, and very shy, and it made him bitter(Hemingway, 2002). In the next
chapter we can see that the narrator of this novel or Jake Barnes actually is external focalization.
The changes of this story can also be seen in the actors characteristic. Their characteristic can
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change as parallel as the situations which are experienced. For instance, the change of Cohns
characteristic is described by Barnes from nice person to bad person (bad behavior of Cohn such
as, when he attacks Barnes). The changes of components in this story can make the narrator
comparing the settings which are located in the situations and the countries.

Narrators perspective as the camera lens or external focalization on the change of the
components of the story appears on several aspects. As I describe in the statement before, that
Robert Cohn seems like a focal character. Because Cohn is explicitly recounted in two chapters,
I think the readers may be confused of a focal character in this novel. Nevertheless, in the next
chapter we can see not only other characters but also other situations which are also described by
narrators perspective, including the situations of himself. Other characters or situations such as,
Barnes togetherness with Georgette We sat and drank it, and the girl looked
sullen.(Hemingway, 2002) and he defines what she looks like I watched a good-looking girl
walk past the table and watched her go up the street and lost sight of her (Hemingway, 2002).
He also tells his togetherness with Brett. As we can see in 4th chapter, that Barnes has personal
affair with her. The next chapters can be directive for us that Jake Barnes and Brett may be the
focal characters of this novel.

The change of narrators perspective can make the readers may still be confused by Barnes
perspective. In the beginning of two chapters, there are seen that Cohn is a great friend by his
goodness, the wealth of his father, and a good player of football team. But then, in the next
chapter, he seems like want to avoid the topic about Cohn.
Bill says You don't understand irony. You have no pity. Say something pitiful."
(Hemingway, 2002).
Barnes responses with "Robert Cohn."
"Not so bad. That's better. Now why is Cohn pitiful? Be ironic."
"Aw, hell!" I said. "It's too early in the morning."
When Barnes has talked with englishman, he feels that there is a quietness,He was very pleasant
and went with us twice to the Irati River. There was no word from Robert Cohn nor from Brett
and Mike. Robert Cohn and Mike are the disruption people in Barnes perspective. Both Mike
and Cohn are the unpleasant people in his perspective, "What does the word Cohn mean?" Bill
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asks. Barnes answers "What a lousy telegram!"(Hemingway, 2002). Barnes view about Mike,
The childish, drunken heroics of it. It was his affair with a lady of title. (Hemingway, 2002).
But then, how about Brett? She is a woman who Barnes loves, "Do you still love me, Jake?"
"Yes," I said"(Hemingway, 2002). According to Genettes book "Narrative Discourse : An
Essay in Method", external focalization, popularized between the two world wars by Dashiell
Hammett's novels, in which the hero performs in front of us without our ever being allowed to
know his thoughts or feelings. (Genette & Lewin, 1983). The description is similar on this
novel.

Several characters are seen changing their behaviour as the events which have to occur in their
life. Cohns characteristic becomes bad and rude. It is different from his characteristic before. As
described by Barnes that Cohn is friendly and nice boy. The change occurs when Cohn knows
that Brett, the woman who is loved by Cohn, has been together with other man. He hit me and I
sat down on the pavement. (Hemingway, 2002). As that event, Cohn changes be mad person. It
can make Barnes as the narrator change their perspective about Cohn. Actually, in the previous
chapter (10th chapter) Barnes has shown his dislike towards Cohn, I was enjoying Cohn's
nervousness., (Hemingway, 2002) Barnes has regarded Cohn as his rival for getting Bretts
love. There is seen the battle between Barnes and Cohn I have never seen a man in civil life as
nervous as Robert Cohn--nor as eager. I was enjoying it. It was lousy to enjoy it, but I felt
lousy. (Hemingway, 2002). Barnes dislike may appear when Cohn reveal his feeling to Brett. It
may also appear when Cohn always makes Barnes life to be uncalm, Brett was gone, I was not
bothered by Cohn's troubles, I rather enjoyed not having to play tennis. (Hemingway, 2002).
Therefore, first description of Barnes about Cohn cannot be his reference for regarding Cohns
proper behavior. For several times, Brett is still undecided about her preference of men. Brett is a
hesitate person who always changes her spouse.

These changes can appear the narrators comparisons about several situations which are
experienced. He compares between the battle of Bretts love story and the battle of bull-fighters
and also Spain and France. Because Brett always changes her spouse for dating with her, it can
appear the battle among men who has closed with her. Barnes sees that battle as the battle of
bull-fighters, Belmonte was very good. But because he got thirty thousand pesetas and people
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had stayed in line all night to buy tickets to see him, the crowd demanded that he should be more
than very good.(Hemingway, 2002). Barnes make comparison between Belmonte and Pedro
Romero, Romero did always, smoothly, calmly, and beautifully (Hemingway, 2002). It shows
that Belmonte is an awesome person when he shows his competence in the ring. His appearance
may be aspired by people who want to see him, People went to the corrida to see Belmonte, to
be given tragic sensations, and perhaps to see the death of Belmonte.(Hemingway, 2002). In
contrast, Romero competing the battle by controlling his action and is impressed the audience
with his performance, His return from retirement had been spoiled by Romero.(Hemingway,
2002). As if he can change Belmontes position. In the battle, I see that Barnes try to compare
between bull-fighters and Bretts love story. Barnes describes Spain as a crowd country,
dark,The plateau was dull and gloomy, and the shapes of the trees and the houses were
changed.(Hemingway, 2002) and there is Barnes description about Spain, as if he reveals his
liking on Spain, In the morning it was bright, and they were sprinkling the streets of the town,
and we all had breakfast in a caf. Bayonne is a nice town. It is like a very clean Spanish town
and it is on a big river.(Hemingway, 2002). Nevertheless, he describes Spain as a gloomy
country, dull, and sombre,Down below there were grassy plains and clear streams, and then we
crossed a stream and went through a gloomy little village, and started to climb
again.(Hemingway, 2002). He describes Spain as crowd country alike the battle for getting
Bretts love and the battle of bull-fighters. Barnes description about Spain is different from his
description about France, I hated to leave France. Life was so simple in France. I felt I was a
fool to be going back into Spain. In Spain you could not tell about anything. I felt like a fool to
be going back into it.(Hemingway, 2002). He seems to hate Spain because of its crowd.

Thus, the changes of the components of the story can change the perspective of the narrator.
They also affect the battle of the characters. Then, narrator make the comparison about several
things sorrounded him. The events, which are occurred, show that Bretts affair towards men be
caused narrators perspective changed.
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Work Citied
Genette, G., & Lewin, J. E. (1983). Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method: Cornell
University Press.
Hemingway, E. (2002). The Sun Also Rises: Scribner.

http://www.signosemio.com/genette/narratology.asp