The "what if's" of Jake and Brett

 Starting the book, The Sun also Rises, we see how Jake and Brett seem to have some sort of romantic relationship or situationship going. We see Brett and Jake leaving the club to go drink at another place by themselves and how they end up kissing in the car. They also call each other their loves. We find out they have a past where Brett was Jake's nurse in the veteran hospital during the war which is a how they know each other so well. At the end after numerous scenes with Brett and Jake we see them in the car again this time the car seems to be pulling them together and apart. The last lines of the book are in response to the trip they all had together which ends up as a mess by the end. In the book Brett says," We could of have had such a *darn* good time together. "Jake's response to her is, "Isn't it pretty to think so? (pg. 251). 

This is where the "what if's" come in because there are so many possibilities to think about. Jake and Brett could of ended up accepting what couldn't happen and having a good life together or they could have decided to change their romantic love to something else. It seems unfair to Jake at the end that he has to see his love, Brett go off with other men to have affairs while she has a fiancé and it's not him. The story line that would of made it a happily ever after would of been Brett having a large realization that she doesn't need sex and that to fulfill that she could cuddle or kiss Jake. Brett could use the growth of being with Jake to stop being so obsessed with something that she doesn't really need and could help her get control of her drinking. Brett's love for Jake was more emotional attached and she felt like she could tell her heart to him and we don't see that else where in the book. This would allow Brett to have Jake as her husband and have a more traditional relationship and have both parties benefit and be supported. They have more emotional love to each other but they do some "couple things" like kiss, and cuddling but never have sex because of Jake's injury. In this type of relationship Jake wouldn't have to see Brett go off with other men and then call him when she needs help. This ending to the book would of made it a lot happier and healthy for both of them.

In conclusion, Jake and Brett have a different type of relationship in the book that can depict Brett as immoral or a user because she calls Jake when in trouble and doesn't really regard Jake's feelings toward her sleeping with Cohn (his friend). On the contrary, Brett doesn't owe Jake anything and she has told him that a relationship won't work ever and that she has a fiancé. There situation is different than nowadays because we have more ways to medically help people than in the 1900's. If their situation were to change it would depict Brett as a better person and would eliminate her sexual promiscuities as long as she took control over it and didn't keep it at the level it was at during the book. Jake would also seem to be less stressed and nervous as he had been in the book with Brett around.

*censored from book