*BAM*

(Hemingway, 205)

Literary Term: Climax

At last the time has come; after all of the teasing and judgement Cohn finally cracks and fights with...well just about everyone. After his affair with Brett, Cohn has to withstand rejection from the entire group, even from Brett, and he becomes a ticking time-bomb. The reader knows Cohn will have to do something eventually, but who knew that he had such anger in him. He had quite the busy night in between hitting Jacob, Mike, and almost killing poor Romero. This is a prime example of how much the opposite sex changes one's being or causes one to resort to more instinct and rash actions. At the beginning of the novel, Cohn is described as a weak push-over which certainly doesn't match this violent scene. However Cohn is quick to return to his actual character, when afterwards he is found crying and begging forgiveness. I believe since Cohn was not involved in the war, he is portrayed in such a weak and non-masculine way. It simply enhances the attitude of masculinity from the war and makes this violent scene more surprising.