Cohn vs. Romero - How Jake Views Different Characters in The Sun Also Rises
Both Robert Cohn and Pedro Romero technically fall under the "fighter" umbrella term. Even so, Jake seems to respect only Romero's fighting ability, and actively seeks to diminish Cohn's. I've been wondering why Jake has such distaste for Cohn's boxing status, something that you'd expect to be one of the few things Jake respects about Cohn. That being said, what makes Cohn and Romero so different in Jake's eyes in The Sun Also Rises?
Cohn's fighter status is in stark contradiction to the harmless reputation he seems to have built with the people around him. The very first sentence of The Sun Also Rises tells us that Cohn is not only a boxer, but a boxing champion. To me, this immediately gives off the impression that Cohn is some sort of tough guy you wouldn't want to mess with, but we're quickly told otherwise by Jake's narration. Jake goes out of his way to diminish Cohn's status as a fighter in the opening paragraph of the book and beyond, portraying him as this harmless, overly gentleman-like figure that we ought to find funny. Jake even goes as far to say that Cohn is a "very shy and a thoroughly nice boy", which definitely doesn't seem to fit with his boxing title.
On the contrary, Jake admires Romero, another "fighter" just like Cohn. Jake has a strong appreciation for the way Romero handles himself and his sport, going on to describe him as a "real one", and that his technique could give people "real emotion". The pure way in which Romero practices his craft is something that strikes Jake; Romero seems to have a deep, nuanced understanding and appreciation for his sport that Cohn otherwise lacks. In the first few paragraphs of the novel, Cohn is supposedly boxes purely to take out the stresses of being discriminated against as a Jew at Princeton. The way Jake puts it, the motivation behind Cohn's boxing is too superficial for him to respect as a so-called "aficionado". Cohn is far too driven by his emotions, which Jake and other characters consider to be foolish.
Another thing I think is worth examining is Cohn as a boxer specifically, since this skill of his presents some interesting contradictions with his character. There's the base-level argument that Cohn's harmless demeanor is in stark contradiction with his proficiency in a "blood-sport", but there's also a few more levels of depth. I think Cohn's willingness to fight and get so angry over Brett speaks volumes about how attached he is to her. Experienced fighters (at least the ones I know), are highly unlikely to invite conflict, let alone get into a fight. Cohn, on the other hand, is so quick to let his emotions boil for someone who is definitely considered an experienced fighter. Sure, Cohn doesn't start the only notable fight in the novel (since Jake is the first to swing), but Cohn is the one who actually starts the whole conflict by calling Jake a "pimp". For someone who should be so averse to physical conflict outside of boxing, Cohn almost loses his head when Brett is involved, which goes to show just how much Cohn immediately attaches himself to her (or as Brett would say, he "behaves badly").
10/28
The difference between how he views Cohn and how he views Romero is sort of a contradiction. The only main differences is that Cohn shows his emotions more openly and Jake views him as naive and maybe also because Jake has known Cohn for longer, maybe once Jake respected Cohn.
ReplyDeleteI think analyzing Cohn, and specifically this aspect of his character, is really important to understanding the novel as it's the opening line of the book. The connection you made between Cohn and Romero was interesting, how they are both fighters but yet Jake views them so differently. As you said, in the first chapter Jake tries to diminish Cohn's abilities, while he praises Romero for his work. This example is representative of larger trends in the book.
ReplyDeleteJake's disdain for Cohn is based on his motivation for boxing being a way to cope with his insecurities. Conversely, Romero is someone who commits to the craft and is pure in their approach. For Cohn, his boxing seems shallow and unappreciative compared to Romero's bullfighting skills.
ReplyDeleteI always find it humorously demeaning when Jake describes Cohn as a "star pupil" of his boxing coach at Princeton--something about the old-fashioned and childish word "pupil" offsets any inclination to imagine Rocky Balboa pounding sides of beef in a meat locker when we think of Robert Cohn and his boxing career. There's this sense that, unlike Romero, who is a "natural" and who is part of this long and distinguished tradition of "real" matadors who embrace the "real" danger of the sport (as opposed to the new "decadent" modern breed, who fake it), Cohn had to be *taught* boxing, as a "pupil," at *school*. I don't know much about Princeton's reputation at the time of the novel, but I assume it's never been known as a hotbed of boxing activity--so there's something even demeaning about calling him "middleweight boxing champion OF PRINCETON" (as in, no big deal, really). So in Jake's view, Cohn isn't a "real" fighter--he doesn't even ENJOY it. He pursued boxing "just" to counter the anti-Semitism he experienced at Princeton, not for "real" reasons. (I find that a pretty real reason, myself, but we're talking about Jake's values here.)
ReplyDeleteSo it is both ironic and funny later in the novel, when Cohn just lays Jake out with a single punch, in the least dramatic fight scene ever narrated. Jake can dismiss Cohn as not a "real one" in so many ways, but he's still knocked on his ass by the guy.
You broke down very well the reasons Jake really doesn't like Cohn. After the only explanation I saw us come to in class being because he was Jewish, I'm a lot more satisfied with this answer. I agree with your assessment and think Jake is very judgmental of Cohn's tendency to show emotion and often make emotionally charged decisions. This is especially true because Jake lies on the exact opposite end of the spectrum, hardly ever showing emotion, and seems to hold greater respect for those who do the same.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Josh, I agree with your points as to why Jake prefers Romero over Cohn. I think excluding the fact that he is jewish, Cohn boxing is less masculine then Romero bull fighting. Factoring in other variables about Cohn such as how he can't control his emotions effectively and I think that's the thought process behind Jake preferring Romero.
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