Motif #1: Alcohol

Throughout the entire novel, every character drinks quite a bit of alcohol. The statement the count makes on page 65 is accurate not just for Brett but for everyone: "You're always drinking..." It's a key element in the development of relationships between the characters and the lifestyle of the time period. Wine accompanies every meal as well as the night life. It's also an integral part of Mike's character since he's almost constantly drunk, especially in Spain. By the end of the novel, one would think that every character should be a wine aficionado. It seems almost as though being drunk is acceptable at any time of the day. Hemingway uses this motif to emphasize the party-all-the-time mentality of the post-WWI era. It provides a greater understanding for the reader of the time period and lifestyle of both the author (who was quite the drunkard from what I understand) and the young people living in it.