Engl 481 Final Post

So here we are at the final post of the course. The end this micro adventure I would like to discuss the subtle undertones we discussed on Tuesday regarding The Sun Also Rises. As we discussed in lecture, there are themes that parallel a great historical quest in Hemingway's novel. The quest for the holy grail. A trial of spiritual fortitude and physical courage that inspired thousands of allusions and interpretations. We noted some parallels of the grail story to The Sun Also Rises including the sexually injured hero who quests for salvation. The scope of my observation points toward the horizon to the goal of every grail story, the grail itself. For the king the grail was supposedly some kind of cup which would bless water that could heal any ailment. To Dan Brown the grail was a person. What was the grail to Jake in The Sun Also Rises? Two main answers immediately come to mind. The more basic and, to my embarrassment, first answer that came to mind was sex. Simple and biological it may have been that Jake's ultimate goal was just to bang Ashley. More eloquently, Jake desired a cure from his affliction that he might finally be able to demonstrate the depth of his devotion to Ashley. Another thought I had was that the grail may be the fabled, and to this writers humble opinion fictional, relationship without sex. Hard to imagine I know, but Jake needed to hold onto hope for something. While my mind still favors sex I am curious to hear your thoughts on the matter. Sex or Sexless love?