# Chapter VIII explained — The Sun Also Rises

> Chapter companion for The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.

## What happens

Jake enjoys a quiet period in Paris after Brett and Cohn leave. Bill Gorton returns from a trip to Vienna and Budapest, recounting a chaotic prizefight in Vienna. Jake and Bill dine at Madame Lecomte's and walk along the Seine, discussing Brett and her fiancé Mike.

## Themes in this chapter

### Expatriation and Alienation

Jake and Bill navigate Paris as expatriates, finding comfort in familiar haunts while observing the influx of American tourists.

### Alcohol and Hedonism

Drinking is central to social interactions; Bill's drunken escapade in Vienna and the group's drinks at the Lilas highlight hedonistic tendencies.

### Disillusionment and Aimlessness

Bill's chaotic, unproductive trip to Vienna and Brett's restless return from San Sebastian reflect a sense of aimlessness.

## Character check-ins

### Jake Barnes

Narrator; enjoys time alone, works, dines with Bill, and reflects on Brett's absence.

### Lady Brett Ashley

Returns from San Sebastian; meets Jake and Bill at the Lilas, then leaves in a taxi.

### Bill Gorton

Arrives in Paris after trips to Vienna and Budapest; recounts a wild prizefight and dines with Jake.

### Mike Campbell

Mentioned as Brett's fiancé; appears briefly at the bar, drunk and affectionate toward Brett.

### Robert Cohn

Not seen; Jake receives a note from him about a future fishing trip to Spain.

### Madame Lecomte

Hosts Jake and Bill at her restaurant on the Ile Saint Louis; remembers Bill from 1918.

## Key lines

> I was a fool to go away,” she said. “One’s an ass to leave Paris.

Brett regrets leaving Paris, calling it foolish to have gone.

_Brett expresses her attachment to Paris and her dissatisfaction with her time away._

> “You’ve got the world here all right,” Bill said to Madame Lecomte.

Bill compliments Madame Lecomte on her restaurant's success.

_Bill acknowledges the restaurant's popularity despite the crowd._

> “It’s pretty grand,” Bill said. “God, I love to get back.”

Bill admires the view of Notre Dame and expresses his love for returning to Paris.

_Bill's appreciation for Paris reflects the expatriate's emotional connection to the city._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sun_also_rises_se/chapters/viii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sun_also_rises_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sun_also_rises_se/chapters