People Truly Never Change

Chapter XIX is a very interestingly written chapter. I was pretty surprised at how easily and quickly Mike and Bill left Jake; the friendships in this story proved to be weak bonds. Once Jake was on his own, who should he hear from but Lady Brett Ashley of course. She sends Jake a telegram saying, "Could you come Hotel Montana Madrid am in rather trouble Brett" (pg 242). It really bothers me that Brett uses Jake; he loves her so much, and she takes complete advantage of him. Jake has to help Brett because he is completely in love with her, which annoys me too. Unrequited love gets on my last nerve; Jake needs to move on. But, he runs off to Madrid to find that Romero is gone because Brett "made him go" (pg 246). Romero wanted to make an honest woman out of Brett, and she obviously would have none of that. Jake lends his shoulder to Brett, and he helps her through her suffering, which is even more bothersome. How can a person put themselves through pain such as that? At the end of the novel, however, I know that Jake knows he and Brett could never be, even through all the hope she gives him. Brett says, "Oh, Jake, we could have had such a damned good time together." Jake replies, "Yes, isn't it pretty to think so?" (pg 251) This is sobering; Jake knows he loves a woman who will never change her ways and will never be with him. She has not changed throughout the novel, but he now sees their 'affair' more realistically. He, and the reader, know that that Brett would have used him just like each man she has already used.