Have you ever heard the movie or the book For whom the Bell Tolls?, it turns out that it is considered a bestseller of world literature, today we are going to give you all the details related to this interesting novel.
For whom the Bell Tolls?
Considered one of the great works of world literature in the genre of novels, For whom the Bell Tolls It was initially released in 1940 by the great American writer Ernest Hemingway.
Its plot drew so much attention that it was later made into a film, earning countless awards including nine Oscar nominations.
The novel deals with the Spanish civil war, which demonstrates the presence of the author in those events. In the story appears a character named Robert Jordán, a Spanish professor from the city of Montana, who fought on the Republican side manipulating explosives; but let's see really and with an explicit description all the synopsis of this interesting novel.
Argument
The novel for whom the bell tolls has its central point when Professor Jordan is assigned to eliminate a bridge to limit the forces of the enemy group. These events occur in the city of Segovia; the professor arrives in the area guided by an old man named Anselmo, there they meet with Pablo the leader of a gang, who will help them carry the mission forward.
The leader of the gang is a very fearful alcoholic, whose friend is a young woman named María, the group is made up of other men along with another woman named Pilar, who is rude and somewhat careless in her physique.
However, Pilar is very loyal to the cause and notably collaborates with Professor Jordán in his plans to destroy the bridge. María, who is another of the main participants in the novel, is inspired by a nurse named María Sans, who worked in the hospital where Ernest Hemingway was confined some time ago.
meet love
Jordán falls in love with María during the process of setting up the explosives to blow up the bridge; In addition, he feels that he will die trying and this will not allow him to go with María to the Spanish capital; then begins a romance and the plot between these two characters, representing the main content of this extraordinary novel.
Robert struggles to overcome the indecision of whether it is best to blow up the bridge or drop everything and run away with Maria; however, and from this criterion, it is where the birth of the phrase «for whom the bell tolls» can be considered. However, some historians and connoisseurs of Ernest Hemingway's literary genre believe that it is attributed to many ambiguous situations in life.
Decision-making is a good argument for the author to carry out his novel and, above all, to create its title. Some have said that the death of an individual reduces another due to the close link with the human, that is why some wonder for whom the bell tolls when it really tolls for any person.
Chronology and Theme
From the moment they order Professor Jordán to blow up the bridge, a series of anguish situations begin that revolve around the figure of Robert. Consequently, situations directly linked to his future death are generated; Regarding the leader of the band and another member called El Sordo, they are aware of this inevitable event.
Each one of the characters, knowing the fate of Professor Jordán, began to internally reflect on the importance of life. In this sense, the plot focuses on camaraderie and sacrifice, as a way of expressing esteem and appreciation for the other person.
Solidarity
Each of the protagonists is willing to do anything to help their friend, partner or fighting soldier. Companionship is one of the most expressive forms manifested in the novel; we see as an example the case of the death of one of the relatives of the member of the band named Joaquín.
After the young man learns of the death of his relative, the rest of his companions and members of the band come to comfort him, hug him and words of support are expressed spontaneously.
Life is given meaning to a place of the situations that may arise during any situation around it and to life itself. The materialization of solidarity is presented in an integral way in each situation of the novel; some characters prefer death to being taken hostage by the enemy and being the cause of unnecessary suffering.
The match
After the actions of blowing up the bridge, the group is ambushed and the professor is injured, and a horse falls on him, fracturing his leg. The rest run to help him but it is impossible for Robert to walk.
María, seeing him, suffers and goes towards him, but Robert asks the group to take her away and protect her, she does not want it but she is forcefully taken out of the place; Robert is left alone thinking about suicide, immortality and everything that has been his life. Summarized in a single moment where he just waits for the arrival of the Nazi soldiers to carry out his plan.
The sacrifice
The culminating part of For Whom the Bell Tolls occurs when Jordán, wounded and unable to leave with his companions, waits for the final ambush to end his life. He prepares for the terrible end, he thinks of suicide to avoid capture and subsequent torture in order to extract information from him.
Jordán thinks at that moment about his father, who also committed suicide due to other circumstances, he also thinks about not feeling cowardly with him. This situation is part of a story in the author's life, simulated in this part of the novel by Ernest Heminway himself; his father also committed suicide when he was just 21 years old.
The ideological background
The author focuses on the political ideology and fanaticism of some idealists who yearn for power at all costs. In this sense, he makes Professor Jordán a politically iconic character; he presents him as a leader strengthened with actions and behaviors, full of physical and spiritual strength.
But above all, seeking to define his life very close to death, as any hero or patriot would do. In several passages of the novel opinions and phrases related to aspects of a political nature and linked to the defense of the people are observed.
Learn more about this and other literary works by reading the following article Summary of Who Moved My Cheese? where narratives similar to those raised in this post are expressed.
Analysis of the novel
For Whom the Bell Tolls is really a love story that takes place during the year 1937, which represents the second year of the Spanish Civil War. Set in the city of Segovia and its landscapes located in the north of the country.
Franco's nationalists were gaining ground, due to the various military victories they had obtained in each of the advances they made in the various regions of the country; Likewise, they had great air support provided by the Nazi troops.
The love
The characters of Robert Jordán and María fall in love during the actions carried out by the professor to tear down a bridge. The environment is dangerous and tragic, many deaths and accidents involve the relationship between the two of them; Robert is a Republican who has fought all his life against the fascists and was willing to give his life to defeat them.
The plot focuses on how the process is carried out to tear down a bridge, a place where Franco's followers planned to enter the northern part of Spain and invade all these regions. Robert carries out a project, where he requested help from some Spanish guerrillas who help him achieve his purpose.
In this situation he meets María who is a friend of the leader of the gang: Together with her he begins to have an affective relationship where each one is interested in the other. The various situations make Robert think about his future with Maria, which leads him to make a relevant decision.
The content of the novel determines what the professor's decision should be, whether to blow up the bridge or stay alive to live happily with Maria. This defines the novel full of passion, intrigue and suspense and involves the rest of the characters within this context.
The encounter with the guerrillas
Anselmo was Robert's guide and friend, he is also the one who takes him to the meeting and presentation of the guerrilla group, where the leader named Pablo appears: in this order, the leader introduces him to María.
However, Pablo is not very enthusiastic about helping Robert, but later agrees and leads him to the hideout, which will be called "the cave" all the time.
Pablo and Robert have several disputes, since Pablo had other plans to intercept the nationalist soldiers. However, Pablo's wife had other plans; The guerrilla chief wants to use something that he did not like very much, his wife, and that was to stop the Nazis and take them as hostages, however, Pilar takes control and decides to help Robert.
The union of both
After a meeting where it is decided that it is necessary to look for transportation, María wakes up Robert who was sleeping, to take him to the camp where one of the guerrilla members called El Sordo, who collaborates with the professor, is located.
However, this situation creates a problem, as they have no horses to flee after blowing up the bridge. While the rest of the members go to look for help, María and Robert are left alone, where they realize that they are in love.
The end
The action begins the next day, the bridge is blown up but Robert is exposed, Pablo kills some men to secure the horses and the professor is trapped by an explosion, which fractures his leg. It is difficult then, because Robert not only cannot walk and asks the group to continue without him, he even requests that they take Maria away.
She does not like the idea and decides to stay with him, however, Robert asks by all means to take her away so that she does not fall into the hands of the nationalist soldiers, so they do.
Robert's idea was to create a diversion for the guerrillas to escape, he would use the diversion on the Nazis; however, finding himself alone, he begins to reflect on suicide. Lieutenant Berrero, who had murdered El Sordo, passes by Robert and watches him, but Robert already had him in his sights.
Characters
The main protagonist of For Whom the Bell Tolls is the American Professor Robert Jordán, an expert in triggers, falls in love with María, the friend of a guerrilla leader, but in order of priority we also have the following characters:
- María, a 19-year-old girl, who is a friend of Pilar, had some bad experiences with the nationalists and falls in love with Robert.
- Anselmo, Robert's companion and friend, is 68 years old and is also a soldier, an ally of Jordán to blow up the bridge.
- Pablo: Leader of a band of guerrillas, stationer, coward and husband of Pilar.
- Pilar, Pablo's wife, a great fighter who supports Robert and protects María.
- Joaquín, a very young gypsy who dies in the fight, a member of El Sordo's gang.
- Rafael, a member of the band, is a gypsy.
- Agustín, another member of the gang.
- Fernando, a young man also a member of the guerrilla group.
- El Sordo is another leader but from a minority group of guerrillas.
- Andrés and Eladio, active members of the band.
- Primitivo, another young guerrilla.
Relationship with real personals
The historical situations that occurred in Spain during the Civil War and the occupation of the nationalists led by Franco during the 1930s, are the reason and serve as a backdrop for Ernesdt Hemingway to carry out this literary work. In it, a political focus is made, placing Jordán as a leader followed by the communists.
Some situations raised by Hemingway in For Whom the Bell Tolls happened in a real way, likewise, some characters were taken from the war. For example, the scene reflected in chapter 10 where Pilar recounts the facts of how several Nazis died in her town.
It was really a true event that occurred in the city of Ronda, Malaga in the year 1936; however, the author emphasizes that these events were invented by his mind. Another relationship with real situations is determined by a group of characters that really existed, let's see:
- Indalecio Prieto, former leader of the PSOE, is named several times in the novel.
- Andrés Nin, co-founder of the POUM, appears named in chapter 18, being Karkov's mockery
- Dolores Ibárruri, called in the novel the passion flower described in chapter 32.
- Robert Hale Merriman, is an American leader who is active in the International Brigades, also coincided with Hemingway; it is believed that he served as a reference to create the character of Robert Jordán.
- János Gálicz, called General Gall in the novel, was not very well seen by Hemingway and is also named in some passages.
- Generals José Miaja, and Vicente Rojo are mentioned in chapter 35 and are responsible for the defense of Madrid.
- André Marty, also a member of the International Brigades, is the one who stops a message sent to General Golz by Robert.
influence on culture
This book has left a great mark on American and even world popular culture. Various artists from the show, the arts, and music have, at some point, devoted part of their inspiration to this work by Hemingway.
For example, the Bee Gees took a song called For Whom the Bell Tolls, from the English book "For Whom the Bell Tolls", to the top 5 of the hits in Great Britain for more than a week in 1993. Also the marching band Rock Metallica composed a song with the same name inspired by the work.
The Nintendo video games with Peper Mario and the Saber Prince have passages inspired by the work. Currently the famous series The Walking Dead, uses the phrase through one of its characters named Chuck and even at the end he gives the answer saying "They turn for you".
You can learn about another work that has caused great impact at a cultural level, by entering the following link: The island of the treasure.
About the Author
Called Ernest Miller Hemingway; a native of the city of Oak Park, belonging to North America, on July 21, 1899 and died on July 2, 191 in Ketchum, Idaho, United States; he married Mary Welsh Hemingway who also passed away the same year.
He was a successful American writer and playwright; he wrote various works such as The Old Man and the Sea, The Fifth Column, The Snows of Kilimanjaro among many others.
He was a great literary and cultural influence in the United States for many years, his legacy has been reflected in the life of the United States and currently serves as a reference for young writers, who take their first steps in the world of literature.
