For Whom the Bell Tolls Critical Analysis
In 1937, Ernest Hemingway traveled to Spain. This experience inspired him to write For Whom the Bell Tolls. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel about the Spanish Civil War during May 1937 at Segovia. During this time, an American citizen volunteers to help the Spanish Republicans against the fascists because for his love of Spain and its people. However, if Robert Jordan truly loved the Spanish people, he would have alongside the fascists and against the republicans. Although Robert Jordan is generally known as the ‘’hero’’ of For Whom the Bell Tolls, the fascists and everyone else whom he is fighting against are themselves the protagonists and victims. Their crimes of morality are present through their premeditated attacks, their lack of remorse, and the amount of violence Robert Jordan and his allies generate.
Hemingway writes a story that takes us through the journey of Robert Jordan and his allies in Segovia, Spain. Throughout the novel, we are taken step-through-step on how they plan to take control of Segovia, ridding the city with its fascists. However, readers are given the misconception that Robert Jordan and his allies are the heroes in the story and that the fascists are the antagonist. In the beginning of this chapter, Golz tells Robert Jordan: “To blow the bridge at a stated hour based on the time set for the attack is how it should be done.” Clearly stated above, Golz does not want to bridge to be blown to where it will limit the travel on the Fascists. Instead, Golz makes it clear just merely blowing up a bridge is nothing. The two of them strategically plot the death of many members of the fascist party. War is only just when its purpose is to defend. In the case of the peasants and the commoners, they are the aggressors. Deciding a time and place to kill fascists
References: Hemingway, Ernest M. For Whom the Bell Tolls. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1940. Print. Buckley, Ramon. “Revolution in Ronda: The Facts in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Hemingway Review. (Fall 1997): 49-56. Rpt. Novels for Students 14. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Wyatt, David M. “Hemingway’s Uncanny Beginnings.” The Georgia Review. (Summer 1977): 1-18. Rpt. Contemporary Literacy Criticism. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.