VI explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Disillusionment and Aimlessness

  Harvey Stone's aimless poverty and Frances's bitter resignation reflect the post-war disillusionment.

• Love and Sexual Frustration

  Frances's failed relationship with Cohn and her desire for marriage and children highlight frustrated love.

• Expatriation and Alienation

  The café society of Montparnasse and the characters' rootlessness underscore expatriate alienation.

Characters to notice

• Jake Barnes

  Narrator; waits for Brett, meets Harvey, witnesses Frances's confrontation with Cohn.

• Lady Brett Ashley

  Mentioned; Jake waits for her but she does not appear.

• Harvey Stone

  Broke and hungry; talks with Jake about Mencken and his own situation.

• Robert Cohn

  Subject of Frances's public humiliation; passive and silent as she attacks him.

• Frances Clyne

  Confronts Cohn about ending their relationship; reveals his plans to go to England alone.

Key passages

• “I haven't had anything to eat for five days.”

  Harvey Stone admits he hasn't eaten in five days due to lack of money.

  Highlights Harvey's destitution and the casual poverty among expatriates.

• “He's decided he hasn't lived enough. I knew it would happen when he went to New York.”

  Frances says Cohn wants to leave her because he feels he hasn't experienced enough, which she anticipated after his trip to New York.

  Reveals Cohn's restlessness and the breakdown of their relationship.

• “You know Robert is going to get material for a new book. Aren't you, Robert? That's why he's leaving me.”

  Frances accuses Cohn of ending their relationship to gather experiences for his next book.

  Shows Frances's bitterness and her view of Cohn's literary ambitions as selfish.