Companion

Character Role Analysis

Bill Gorton; Jake Barnes

Bill and Jake are a perfect match. They’re equals in everything: they’re both American veterans of the war, both productive writers, and both have a true sense of passion and adventure—Jake compliments Bill by telling Montoya that Bill’s a real aficionado. In the immortal words of Jay and Silent Bob, they’re hetero-lifemates.

Bill and Jake’s escape to nature (their fishing trip to Burguete) is the one scene of true contentment and relaxation in the novel; together in nature, Bill and Jake can truly be themselves and not worry about the external frustrations imposed on them by the other characters, and by society as a whole.