First Person Point of View

Hemingway authors the novel from the point of view of Jake Barnes. This is made apparent by the use of the pronoun "I" such as on page 43: "In the morning I walked down the Boulevard to the Rue Soufflot for coffee and brioche." In a novel like this, first person seems to me to be the best strategy for conveying the mood of the time period (post WWI) and setting up indirect characterization. Seeing through Jake's eyes allows the reader to relate better to the situations presented in the novel. Jake is directly involved in the occurrences of the story, so he has the authority to speak about it and tell the story. He can be trusted by the reader to present an accurate account of what happened because of his direct involvement. Also, Jake is the reader's best source of information, so his opinions become the reader's opinions. Hemingway can ensure that the reader has the image and opinion of a character that he intends. First person also makes a story more entertaining. The ability to relate to the narrator helps the reader feel closer to the storyline and allows for an easier and more enjoyable read.