The end of Jake x Lady Brett Ashley

 " Oh, Jake," Brett said, "we could have had such a damned good time together." Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me.

    " Yes," I said " Isn't it pretty to think so?" 

    I personally feel like Hemmingway used this last scene to bring Jake and Brett's story full circle. They started in a cab together sharing this seemingly tender moment. Both seemed to yearn for each other but couldn't have each other it seemed to be a tragic love story -- in the beginning. As the novel went on the dynamics of Brett and Jakes relationship began to be brought further in further into the light. 

    In all honesty I am not a fan of Brett's. Throughout the entire novel Jake acted as a twisted version of a wingman for Brett (the love of his life) and she not only let him but she encouraged him. Brett never really took Jakes feelings into any sort of consideration as she went around having relationships with other men. She only came back to Jake or reached out to Jake when she needed him. He was the guy that was always gonna be there for her no matter what, proven at the end of the book when Jake ruined his relationship/ friendship with Montoya in order to hook Brett up with Romero, whom she forced to leave her just days after proclaiming her love for him. Then Brett called Jake to help her pay for her hotel room and essentially bail her out. Brett is not a bad character; she is too complex to simply peg her as the villain. But I don't think she is fully aware of how she makes Jake feel or how her action impact him. That is Part of the problem right there; Brett says she loves Jake but she doesn't act like it she only says she'd be different with Jake which she cannot prove so it's an empty statement. I believe the ending (quoted above) is Jake realizing that. 

    I believe the last scene is bringing the story of Jake and Lady Brett Ashley to a close. Jake started off thinking he was the only one in the world who truly understood Brett and who could have real intimacy-- physical or not. Throughout the novel Brett didn't seem to display the characteristics of someone who was deeply in love with Jake. Brett's relationship with Romero was the straw that broke the camels back. It made Jake realize that Brett wouldn't or couldn't love and respect Jake in the way Jake loved and respected Brett. He realized that he was being taken advantage ( even if Brett wasn't doing it on purpose). At that point in the novel is when Jake actually understood Brett and he says, 

"Yes... Isn't it pretty to think so." This is Jake saying that the idea of a relationship with Brett is better than what the reality of their relationship would be if Jake had not been injured and they were able to have physical intimacy ( something Brett needs in a romantic relationship ). This brings their story to a close, with Jake's new revelation of where he actually stands with Brett, I think they'll always be friends but I don't think Jake will be there for Brett the way he was before. 

Comments

  1. TaehanNovember 9, 2022 at 9:43 PM

    I agree with this post. Almost depressing to think how everything Brett and Jake went through during the novel was just another patterned behavior for Brett. Jake's unflinching loyalty seems to be quite misplaced as well, as you have noticed.

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  2. AnuprovaNovember 13, 2022 at 3:52 PM

    I agree with your interpretation of the line, "Yes... isn't it pretty to think so." While some may interpret this as a wistful ending leaving Jake in the same place he started, I believe the difference between the car scenes from the beginning of the book and the end of the book show Jake's development as a character and, as you said, brings the story full circle. Instead of Jake moving towards Brett like in the beginning of the novel, Brett is the one approaching Jake while he sits still. Wonderful post!

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  3. BridgetNovember 14, 2022 at 5:42 PM

    Nice post! While I found the ending slightly anticlimactic it made sense after thinking about it for a bit. While Brett seems to still be slightly stuck in the same mindset she had at the beginning of the novel Jake is different. Jake's reaction to Brett's comment is much calmer than his more passionate reaction at the start. He seems to have accepted his and Brett's fate and is ready to move on in his life.

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  4. Xenia MongwaNovember 16, 2022 at 8:37 PM

    I definitely agree with you! Brett saw something in the other men that Jake was lacking, and she used that to her advantage, but still ended up being dissatisfied and came back to him. As much as Jake truly wants Brett in his heart, he knows that he won't be able to satisfy her, and he says "Yes... isn't it pretty to think so." as a way of coming to terms with that.

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  5. Luke YouNovember 18, 2022 at 7:03 PM

    I interpreted the ending in the same way. To me, it seems like Brett has dependency issues because Jake is the only person she comes back to again and again. He is the only one actively supporting all her relationships with various men, and she takes advantage of that. But I don't think she does so out of malice.

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  6. Fallon McFarlandNovember 19, 2022 at 10:00 AM

    I disagree that Jake won't be with Brett the same way, at the end of the novel. I agree, though, that Jake has realized his relationship with Brett won't meet a sort of ideal he has. And he accepts it with his final line of dialogue. But I don't think he's decided what to do from there: he has a choice to cut Brett out and perhaps look for someone else, or to stay with her and accept their relationship. So, I agree that Jake has realized that what he has wanted from Brett can't happen, but I don't think he has chosen what to do about it.

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