Thinking about the role that the matador plays in the novel, what is the role of a hero in a world disillusioned by war?

The protagonist, Jake, can be interpreted as a hero of a
sort, but not a creative hero. One way to read the role of the matador in this novel is
to see this figure as a "person of attraction" and Jake as one of several characters
whose flaws make him succeptible to that person.

Romero
draws Brett in ways that can be seen as similar to the way a matador attracts a bull -
with no real prospect for success for the bull. This can also be applied to the way
Brett attracts Jake, continually, desperately, and almost
fatally.

Taking a narrow reading of the bull fight
situation as a metaphor, we might say that the "tragic hero" of the novel is the
bull/Jake, constantly attracted and compelled by the matador/Brett. The actions of the
bull/Jake might appear to be generous or even chivalrous and
heroic.

Considering the outcome of most bull fights,
however, the heroism of the bull becomes mere bravery in the face of a challenge. The
heroism becomes a willingness to submit to injury.

Jake
comes to Brett's rescue as often as she calls, much like the bull charges the matador
when the cape is waved. If Jake were a redemptive hero, we would expect him to redeem
something with his repeated efforts, either Brett or
himself.

The closest character to an actual redemptive,
rejuvenating hero would have to be Romero, the young bull fighter. He is part of the
city's ritual. He is young. He is talented. But instead of coordinating the souls of
those around him into a single pattern, he breaks the pattern of tradition and loses his
status as a hero.

If we want to relate Campbell's idea of a
"coordinated soul" to this novel, we might say that the
Afficionados are the collective hero, participating in a
time-honored, culturally rigid ritual and receiving spiritual pleasure from this ritual.
Jake and his friends, however, stand outside this collective hero group and reap no
spiritual benefit from the bull fights.