Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Sun Also Rises. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Jake Barnes rescues Lady Brett Ashley in Madrid after she leaves the young bullfighter Romero. In a taxi, Brett says they could have had a wonderful time together, and Jake answers, “Isn't it pretty to think so?”
Quick facts
– Book: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
– First published: 1926
– Type: A modernist novel
– Tone of the ending: Melancholy and ironic
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Jake, an American journalist in Paris, was injured in World War I and cannot have sex. He loves Brett, a free-spirited English aristocrat, but they cannot be together. A group of friends, including Robert Cohn, Mike Campbell and Bill Gorton, travel to Pamplona for the fiesta, where drinking and jealousy build. Brett falls for the nineteen-year-old bullfighter Pedro Romero, and Jake introduces them.
What Happens at the End of The Sun Also Rises
Cohn beats up Romero in a jealous rage, but Romero still fights brilliantly in the bullring. Brett leaves with Romero. When the fiesta ends, the group breaks up, and Jake goes to San Sebastian to rest. A telegram from Brett asks for help, and Jake travels to Madrid. Brett tells him she sent Romero away because she would ruin him. In a taxi, she says they could have been happy together. Jake's reply, “Isn't it pretty to think so?” closes the book.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Brett gives up Romero to avoid hurting him.
- Jake still comes when Brett calls.
- The final line rejects the fantasy of a happy life together.
- Nothing really changes for the “lost generation.”
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Jake Barnes | Remains loyal to Brett but resigned |
| Lady Brett Ashley | Plans to return to Mike |
| Pedro Romero | Sent away by Brett |
| Robert Cohn | Leaves in disgrace after the fight |
What the Ending Means
The ending captures the emptiness of the postwar generation. Jake and Brett cannot have what they want, and Jake's quiet irony shows he has accepted it.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers hear bitterness in the last line, while others hear gentle sadness. The title is often read as a sign that life simply goes on in cycles, whatever people suffer.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Disillusion. The characters drink and travel but find no meaning.
Masculinity. Jake's wound and Romero's courage frame the book's ideas about manhood.
Love. Jake and Brett love each other in a way that can never be fulfilled.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Sun Also Rises as melancholy and ironic. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Ernest Hemingway to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are melancholy and ironic will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Ernest Hemingway closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1957 film keeps the taxi scene but softens the tone of the final exchange.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Sun Also Rises with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about disillusion, and do you agree with Ernest Hemingway's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as melancholy and ironic, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces disillusion and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Ernest Hemingway leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Sun Also Rises often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Sun Also Rises earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After The Sun Also Rises
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Related: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The Sun Also Rises You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Sun Also Rises?
Jake Barnes rescues Lady Brett Ashley in Madrid after she leaves the young bullfighter Romero. In a taxi, Brett says they could have had a wonderful time together, and Jake answers, “Isn't it pretty to think so?”
Is the ending of The Sun Also Rises happy or sad?
Most readers call it melancholy and ironic.
What does the ending of The Sun Also Rises mean?
The ending captures the emptiness of the postwar generation.
Is the ending of The Sun Also Rises the same in the adaptation?
The 1957 film keeps the taxi scene but softens the tone of the final exchange.
Who wrote The Sun Also Rises and when was it published?
The Sun Also Rises was written by Ernest Hemingway and first published in 1926.
Is The Sun Also Rises worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy modernist novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Ernest Hemingway prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Sun Also Rises before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.