Lisa Tran

Angus

Period 3

14 May 2015

The Sun Also Rises- Ernest Hemingway- Feminist Criticism

The Victorian Era stereotypes women to be fragile, pure, and graceful. Women are

labeled and categorized like possessions and displayed like a doll. Women had to dress elegantly,

modestly, and could not flaunt. A traditional woman stayed at home, cleaned, cooked, and

remained submissive to men. Society deemed women who did not meet these standards as

vulgar. In Ernest Hemingways novel, The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway displays Brett Ashley as

promiscuous and defiant of the traditional feminine image. Brett mirrors women during the

twentieth century who defies female gender roles and demands for equality. Through this

revolution of womens movement, society frowns upon women who are nontraditional.

Brett ignores the Victorian Era stereotypes through her behavior, clothing, and hairstyle.

She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed skirt, and her hair was brushed back like a

boys. (Hemingway 22). Brett shows off her figure by wearing a skirt that captures attention,

which is considered distasteful. Instead of having long and luscious hair, her boyish hairstyle

symbolizes her choice of freedom over stereotypical feminine. Because she does not have the

appearance of purity, society disapproves of Brett and labels her as unladylike. Women are not

allowed to self-express, therefore untraditional styles are unsophisticated. Women are defined by

what society considers is beautiful. Moreover, when Romero claims he loves Brett in the cafe, he

suggests that she grew her hair out because is would make her appear more womanly (242).
This implies that men prefer traditionally submissive females and that women are constrained

from personal freedom.

During the fiesta in a wine shop, Brett decides to join the male dancers for a party.

Some dancers formed a circle around Brett and started to dance... Brett wanted to dance but

they did not want her to. They wanted her as an image to dance around (155) reveals how the

male dancers desire to have Brett as an object of beauty like a doll. She defies stereotypical

female gender role, which threatens the stereotype of masculinity. Bretts independence frightens

men because they are use to being superior. Men realizes that if they are no longer needed, then

their strength in male gender role will also weaken. By refusing to let Brett join them in the

dance, this demonstrates how men do not want women to gain freedom and equality. Women are

therefore oppressed by men.

Brett Ashley disregards traditional values and stands up for her own rights. This

exemplifies how women worldwide are resisting against the Victorian Era standards for what is

ladylike and what is not. Society should admire women for their personality and intelligence not

only their physical appearance. Women should not have to act like a delicate flower to be

considered sophisticated and modest. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway through the

feminist lens reveals the evolving gender roles.