I think a theme in this novel that reaches further and deeper than masculinity or post-war trauma is emotional avoidance. Every character in The Sun Also Rises but Cohn hides and/or "protects" their emotions, especially when provoked or prodded. The subculture that these characters belong to makes an attempt to separate the public and private spheres entirely, with any infringement meeting disgust if not outright resentment. Yet the ironic jabs at each other's personal life, company, and beliefs are commonplace and vital to conversation. Early in the novel, Jake and Brett seem to be poking fun when they question each other's dates (a prostitute and gay men respectively), but are they really? We read an extended passage where Jake expresses his great anger at seeing Brett with these men, but by falling into this comfortable, supposedly ironic conversation, he avoids any conflict. Bill attacks Cohn pretty relentlessly at times, but somehow makes Cohn look out of line and out of place when he gets almost violently angry. Even though we know Bill strongly dislikes Cohn, their subculture of emotional avoidance lets him get away scot-free.
Although I know little of Hemingway's life, he may be making a statement about living a life drowned in excess and indulgence, namely that doing so only detaches oneself from true peace and emotional and mental acceptance. Reading the novel in this light, Jake is made an even more tragic character; Brett is able to come to terms with or at least acknowledge her insecurities and weaknesses, Cohn escapes the situation entirely, but Jake makes no progress. Even if his time spent in solitude has allowed him to come to a stable mindset, Jake is only made more emotionally distant and passive. With no future, Jake is merely going through the motions of life.
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