For Whom the Bell Tolls
This blog is written as a thinking activity on the novel 'For Whom the Bell Tolls ' by Ernest Hemingway. In this blog I am going to deal with the ending of the novel.
Ernest Hemingway:-
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was an American novelist, short story writer, and journalist, widely considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Known for his distinctive writing style and terse prose, Hemingway became a prominent figure in the literary world, winning both critical acclaim and popular success.
Some key points about Ernest Hemingway:
1. Early Life: Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, USA. He developed a passion for writing during his high school years, and after graduating, he worked as a journalist for the Kansas City Star.
2. World War I: Hemingway served as an ambulance driver during World War I in Italy. This experience influenced much of his later work, particularly his novel "A Farewell to Arms."
3. The Lost Generation: Hemingway was part of the "Lost Generation," a term coined by Gertrude Stein to describe the disillusioned individuals who came of age during World War I. His works often reflect the sense of loss and disillusionment felt by this generation.
4. Writing Style: Hemingway's writing style is characterized by short sentences, simple language, and a focus on the understated and unsaid. He believed in the "iceberg theory," suggesting that much of the meaning in a story is beneath the surface.
5. Major Works:
- The Old Man and the Sea (1952): A novella about an aging Cuban fisherman's struggle with a giant marlin.
- A Farewell to Arms(1929): A novel set during World War I, exploring the impact of war on individuals.
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940): Set during the Spanish Civil War, this novel explores themes of love, honor, and sacrifice.
6. Nobel Prize: In 1954, Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in "The Old Man and the Sea."
7. Personal Life: Hemingway led a tumultuous personal life, marked by multiple marriages and adventures. He spent considerable time in Paris during the 1920s as part of the expatriate community of writers and artists.
8. Legacy: Despite his tragic end—Hemingway took his own life in 1961—his literary legacy endures. His works continue to be studied and celebrated for their profound impact on modern literature.
Ernest Hemingway's contributions to literature and his influence on subsequent generations of writers make him a towering figure in the world of American letters.
Introduction of Novel:
For Whom the Bell Tolls, novel by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1940.
The novel is set near Segovia, Spain, in 1937 and tells the story of American teacher Robert Jordan, who has joined the antifascist Loyalist army. Jordan has been sent to make contact with a guerrilla band and blow up a bridge to advance a Loyalist offensive. The action takes place during Jordan’s 72 hours at the guerrilla camp. During this period he falls in love with María, who has been raped by fascist soldiers, and befriends the shrewd but cowardly guerrilla leader Pablo and his courageous wife, Pilar. Jordan manages to destroy the bridge; Pablo, Pilar, María, and two other guerrillas escape, but Jordan is injured. Proclaiming his love to María once more, he awaits the fascist troops and certain death.
Title Significant :
The title is derived from Meditation 17 of John Donne’s Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624). “No man is an island,” Donne observes, “entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
Robert Jordan as a Typical Hemingway Hero:
Robert Jordan As A Typical Hemingway Hero In ” For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Hemingway’s heroes have their own brand of uniqueness in their characterization. They are not less than Shakespeare heroes in their unique traits of heroism. His heroes are successful in their presentation of action and adopt themselves as the action follows or proceeds. That’s why, most of the critics dub Hemingway as a successful writer of tragic heroes. The element of pessimism is very much evident in it. He creates his own fiction style in his writing.
A tragic hero in the play or novel is that person who achieves greatness at the cost of himself. As it is known that the tragic death of a hero turns a play or novel into a tragedy and it is the death of the hero which mounts the appeal of the tragedy. The hero intentionally does everything for the good of the public and it is his death for the fulfillment of his mission which fills the hearts of the readers, with sympathy and respect. The greatness of the tragedy depends on the bigness of the goal of the hero. In other words, it means to say that the bigger the goal of the hero the higher the tragedy.
In For Whom the Bell Tolls, we see that Robert Jordan plays a role of such character who fights for an ideal in a foreign land. He has a firm belief in the Republican cause because he loves Spain. He is of the views that if there establishes a government of fascists in Spain then the future of this country will be in danger and the country might be spoiled. Moreover, he thinks that in spite of all its flaws a republican form of Govt. It is better than a totalitarian state because an individual feels cramped and suffocated under fascism.
This novel has been written in order to test the quality of Jordan’s idealism and the chain of obstacles in his path forms the basic structure of the novel. As the action of the novel proceeds, Jordan’s task gets more and more complicated. Pablo is absolutely against Jordan’s plan. He takes it impossible to put into practice because it means the destruction of the land. Hemingway’s heroes are always brave in their acts. Jordan is brave enough that he even does not feel fear in his great risky task of blowing up the bridge.
Jordan is such a character who does not give any importance to what happens to himself. He accepts the risky task of blowing up the bridge with an open heart and never shows any sign of cowardice. Though General Golz warns him about the difficulty of the assignment yet he gives a promise to complete it within the limit of time. In spit of creating obstacles by Pablo, he balances Pablo’s hostility by Pilar’s support. It was being assumed by some critics that Jordan’s falling in love with Maria might become a threat or obstacle in fulfilling his mission. In spite of this, he does not care and we see with the passage of time that it is his love for Maria which enhances his zest. He keeps the two roles that of lover and that of a dynamiter apart, though towards the end of the play, they merge into one another.
Some critics raise objections by saying that sometimes, Jordan appears like a dummy but Hemingway makes him a convincing and imitable personality by his superb art of characterization. So, their objection does not remain for a long time when we see that it is Jordan who fights against many abstractions: liberty, equality, rights of the people, democracy and atrocities of the fascists.
In fact, he is a religiously zealous who fights for a secular ideal. A prominent critic has very rightly said, “He dies for the American dream”. He sacrifices for all the poor people in the world. There is no doubt in saying the fact that his ideals are worth imitating for the people of the rest of the world. He fights for those ideals which are practicable for most of the sensible persons.
Conclusion:
Summing up the above mentioned discussion of the characteristics of Jordan as a tragic hero, we can say in the concluding remarks that at the end; his loyalty becomes personal loyalty and he is just a husband covering the retreat of his wife whom he loves by the cores of his heart. He sacrifices his life for Maria and her people i.e., Pablo and his land. He is justified in his act of sacrifice because his idealism is worth imitating and practicable for many others.
- Write your Views on the very brave character Pilar.
Pilar is the gypsy mujer of Pablo. She has been with him for several years, and one of the purposes she serves in the book is to give the reader background information. It is through her that we see the beginning of "the movement," the way life was before the war, and the courage of Pablo before he "went bad." Pilar also plays a major part, through references to her reading of Jordan's palm, in maintaining the feeling of impending doom.
But even these purposes are not enough for Hemingway. As mentioned above in relation to Pablo, Hemingway does not let his major idea be represented by one character alone. In the book we see Robert Jordan in transition from one concept to another. Pablo, too, is on that same road, a few miles, as it were, ahead of Jordan. And now we find Pilar traveling the same road, but "bringing up the rear." It is she who supplies the allegiance to the cause which is dead in Pablo and dying in Jordan. "I am for the Republic," she says in her showdown with Pablo, "and the Republic is the bridge." She is late, too, in her realization of the real danger involved in the bridge assignment. And it is only in the final pages of the book that she reaches that stage of her transition in which she begins to doubt the value of the cause.
One of the major ideas of the book, then, is the transition, from one belief to another, of the three characters described above. By placing each of these characters at a different stage of development, Hemingway has enabled himself to portray the three stages of this transition and yet retain the emotional intensity provided by the brief time span covered by the book.
Pilar is a significant and brave character in Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls." She is a strong, wise, and outspoken woman who plays a crucial role in the story. Her character is shaped by the tumultuous times of the Spanish Civil War, and she serves as a symbol of resilience and courage.
One of the key aspects of Pilar's character is her deep understanding of human nature and the complexities of war. As the leader of the guerrilla band, she is respected for her knowledge, experience, and strength. Pilar's bravery is not only evident in her active participation in the resistance against the fascist forces but also in her ability to confront the harsh realities of war with unyielding determination.
Pilar's bravery is also seen in her relationships, particularly her connection with Robert Jordan, the protagonist. Her loyalty to the cause and her comrades is unwavering, and she becomes a source of support and guidance for those around her. Her role as a motherly figure to the guerrilla fighters adds depth to her character, showcasing her compassion and humanity in the midst of the brutality of war.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Pilar is a very brave character in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," embodying the strength and resilience required to endure the challenges of war. Her wisdom, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the cause make her a memorable and impactful figure in the novel, contributing to its exploration of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Reference:
Pfeiffer, Lee. “For Whom the Bell Tolls | Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman.” Britannica, 10 December 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/For-Whom-the-Bell-Tolls-film-by-Wood. Accessed 12 January 2024.
“Robert Jordan As A Typical Hemingway Hero.” AQ Academy11, 4 July 2020, https://aqacademy11.com/robert-jordan-as-a-typical-hemingway-hero/. Accessed 12 January 2024.
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