For Whom the Bell Tolls A book of war

By: Ernest Hemingway

Andy Moss

The effects of war spread far beyond storm and shell, far beyond life or death. War encompasses everyone and everything, sucking them into an eternal black hole and crushing them into oblivion. There is no winning in war; every victory is hollow and serves as a reminder of what was lost. For the soldiers on a battlefield, time moves slowly. If the war lasts long enough, it can become a way of life. War is a heavy burden, weighing down on mind and body. Soldiers rely on the small joys in life to pull them through their day and keep their dreams from dwindling away. In the story, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemmingway depicts war and the way that so many people have managed to cope with its horrors. This is a story about life, death, confusion and love—this is a story about war. Who better to write a war story than Ernest Hemingway? Hemingway was born with a natural talent for writing. Once grown, his life nearly always revolved around war. After the United States entered the First World War, he joined as a volunteer in the Italian army. Hemingway was wounded on the front lines and forced to spend an extended period of time at a number of hospitals. Once healed, the energetic young man became a reporter for Canadian and American newspapers and covered events such as the Greek Revolution. He later spent a great deal of time in Spain covering the happenings of the Spanish Civil War. It is on this war that his famous novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, is based. The story was painstakingly researched and is undoubtedly an accurate representation of guerilla warfare during the Spanish Civil War. For Whom the Bell Tolls is written in a style that makes it sound like it has been translated from Spanish to English. Its sentences are generally blunt and to the point, making the story feel realistic. No aspects of the main character’s life are left out. Everything, including hidden desires, is clearly portrayed throughout the novel. The book is written in the “common

man’s” language, so it remains interesting even in chapters that have no excitement. Hemingway truly wrote this book to keep readers’ attention, and it is reflected in the novel’s wide popularity. The main character of the story was Robert Jordan, an American fighting alongside Spanish Loyalists. Jordan’s specialty was dynamite and his target was a strategic bridge, which passed over a deep gorge. He was a very practical man and an excellent leader. He joined with a guerilla band led by a bloodthirsty man named Pablo and his wife, Pilar. With their help, Jordan planned to destroy the bridge. He found love with a girl named Maria, and their relationship raised the tension between Jordan and Pablo. Both men were very stubborn, and both thought that they were most fit to lead the group. Throughout the story, Hemmingway describes in detail how the small group of Spanish Loyalists was able to survive in such a war-ravaged area. The guerilla fighters were discrete and constantly on the lookout for enemy units. At times, Jordan was forced to stay hidden within a spitting distance of a whole band of cavalry. The tension of war and Pablo’s insurrection constantly strained on the lives of the crew. The bridge was eventually destroyed, but at the cost of many lives. During the escape, Jordan’s leg was badly broken, keeping him from moving on. His friends were forced to leave him exposed as an enemy tank came his way. In his last few moments, Jordan pondered the events that had brought him there to die. He knew he would not die vain, knowing that his life could help bring freedom for the world’s common people. All of the characters in For Whom the Bell Tolls reacted to stress in different ways. Robert Jordan channeled his tensions into his love for Maria, and performed his duties to guarantee her survival. Pablo was an intelligent man, and did whatever it took to save his own life, even if it meant betrayal. His wife, Pilar, dedicatedly took care of the entire group as if they were her children. Even others reacted differently; some became violent, and some became

solitary. One character only performed an action if it were an order, because then he could not be faulted for what he had done. It has been said that you cannot truly know a person unless you have seen him under extreme stress. For Whom the Bell Tolls gives testimony to this point with the actions of its characters. War is a terrible event, which is sometimes necessary, but always destructive. To those who are involved, their lives are bathed in horror, and it takes all of their effort to simply keep living. War is not a series of battle plans or political moves; it is a culmination of terrible emotions and actions. Surprisingly, war brings out the best attributes in some people: courage, heroism, etc. Unfortunately, it also brings out terrible desires like greed and a need for power. For Whom the Bell Tolls show us the horrors through which so many soldiers have lived. We must be mindful of their sacrifice, so that we may fully appreciate the incredibly blessed lives that we live today.

Bibliography ClassicNote on For Whom the Bell Tolls. 2003. GradeSaver. . Donne, John. For Whom the Bell Tolls a Poem. . Donne, John. For Whom the Bell Tolls. Poemhunter. . Ernest Hemingway- Biography. 8 Mar. 2005. Nobelprize. . Ernest Hemingway Biography>Childhood. 2003. The Hemingway Resouce Center. . For Whom the Bell Tolls. Awerty. . Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls. New York: MacMillan Company, 1940. 1-471.