Pedro Romero is described by Jake, as a “beautiful” and attractive nineteen year-old boy. Romero is the “real-deal”, as he is a talented yet young bullfighter. Romero shows a great passion in his bullfighting, and is not afraid of death. During the fiesta, Jake explains to Brett that the other bullfighters, Belmonte and Marcial, fake their fights, stunting their fears with bold moves that would make the audience perceive them as macho. Romero, on the other hand, makes bold moves as well, although he does not flinch. When Jake and Romero have their drink together, Romero says that the bulls are his best friends. He also says that he kills his best friends, “so they don’t kill me.”
Romero displays heroic qualities through the ways Hemingway describes the people watching him. During the bullfights, the audience is captivated by the little details in his work. Enthusiasts, or “Aficionados” can easily appreciate his body language, as well as the way he looks at the bulls. Jake explains in great detail, what seem to be special connections between the bulls and Romero. The chemistry that Romero and the bulls have, is obvious to the audience, and is another great quality that makes him a hero.
During the bullfights, hee is always displayed in the center, between Marcial and Belmonte. Towards the end of the novel, it is explained that Belmonte was a retired bullfighter, but he came back by popular demand. Belmonte came back to perform at the fiesta, although Romero had now taken an even higher status than Belmonte had. Even Belmonte knew that Romero was the better bullfighter, and that his honesty showed in his work.
Another quality of a Hemingway Hero, is modesty. When Jake and Pedro Romero have a drink together, Romero does not brag about his status. He is aware of his talent and accepts people’s praise, and he even occasionally admits that parts of his bullfights were good. Romero is also not afraid to openly discuss his faults, as he did with Jake.
Romero shows great pride in his work, even though he once admitted that he doesn’t necessarily enjoy bullfighting.
Pedro Romero can be classified as a Hemingway Hero, as an extremely passionate and talented young boy. He is an epitome of purity and youth. He is the true meaning of the word “macho”-- and many of his supporters (including Montoya, as well as Jake and Romero’s posse) try to keep him that way, by helping him avoid things that would corrupt him. Up until his relationship with Brett, he remains a pure and un-corrupt boy.
When Brett runs off with Romero to
In the Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway casts Pedro Romero as the great Hemingway Hero. Romero is liked by many, is young, passionate, talented and pure. He gets the girl that all the men wish they had, and is the only one that changes Brett’s demeaning ways. He has technique and isn’t afraid of death. He is the only character in the novel that has a clear direction of where he is going, as everyone else seems lost in their own personal conflicts. He is charming and friendly, and overall, a well-rounded person. And hey, he wears a cape. What defines a hero better than one who wears a cape?
