# XIII explained — The Sun Also Rises

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

## What happens

Jake and Bill return to Pamplona from Burguete, where tensions rise as Mike Campbell publicly humiliates Robert Cohn for his affair with Brett. The group prepares for the San Fermín fiesta, and Jake reflects on the concept of afición and his bond with Montoya.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ritual and Tradition

The bullfight rituals and the afición culture are explored through Montoya's hotel and the upcoming fiesta.

### Masculinity and Identity

Mike's aggressive confrontation with Cohn and Jake's role as a mediator highlight masculine competition and insecurity.

### Alcohol and Hedonism

Drinking is pervasive, from the café to the inn, and fuels both camaraderie and conflict.

## Character check-ins

### Jake Barnes

Narrator and central figure; reflects on afición and mediates group tensions.

### Lady Brett Ashley

Arrives in Pamplona with Mike; wears a Basque beret and tries to keep peace.

### Robert Cohn

Present at the café; target of Mike's drunken insults; reserved and formal at supper.

### Bill Gorton

Accompanies Jake; jokes with Harris and comments on the bulls and Mike's behavior.

### Mike Campbell

Drunk and hostile toward Cohn; later calms down at supper.

### Montoya

Hotel owner; discusses afición and the quality of the bulls with Jake.

## Key lines

> Afición means passion. An aficionado is one who is passionate about the bullfights.

Afición is a deep passion for bullfighting, and an aficionado is someone who truly loves the sport.

_Jake explains the cultural significance of afición to the reader._

> He calls her Circe. He claims she turns men into swine.

Robert Cohn calls Brett 'Circe,' saying she transforms men into pigs.

_Mike mocks Cohn's literary allusion to describe Brett's effect on men._

> I say. Really you don't know how much it means. I've

Harris expresses deep gratitude for the companionship during the fishing trip.

_Harris, slightly drunk, thanks Jake and Bill for their friendship._

## Links

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