Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises
Doctor: How’s the hand?
Jake: Oh, it’s all right.
Doctor: We should have the bandages off in a week or two.
Jake: Then back to the squadron?
Doctor: No, only the men who can still have sex go back to the squadron. You’ll go somewhere else.
Why. Would he not go back to squadron. I’m just asking. That seems to be the only earthly interpretation of this passage.
I would add that part of the reason I love the Tyrone Power version is that he handles the scene by attempting to mask Jake’s confusion at being given the news that he’s impotent, which is appropriate, considering it makes no sense that this the reason he is being discharged even though the doctor tells him he’s completely normal otherwise.
Power was an amazing actor, and his was an untimely and tragic death. He had a massive heart attack on a set one day. He was in his forties.
