Hello friends, here I am writing a blog on Robert Jordan : A typical Hemingway Hero in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.
∆ About the Author :
Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works, drawn from his wide range of experiences in World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II.
∆ 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' :
'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan(protagonist), a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. He is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia.
∆ Robert Jordan : a typical Hemingway hero :
Barnes, Nick Adam, Frederic Henry, Robert Jordan etc. are all Hemingway’s typical heroes who remain continuously under great stress because they are living in absolutely unsatisfactory conditions. Hemingway’s hero is always in some war or war like conditions but the notable point is that he enters war without any social, political or ideological obligation. That is why he is basically a disinterested spectator of war instead of a vehement participant.
Hemingway’s hero leads a private life as an isolated individual because during war he very closely observes the nothingness of life, cruelty of man against man, temporality, emptiness and meaninglessness in human relationship. However, we should not assume that he is a misanthrope but he has a great ability to recognize another member of his breed and establish an immediate understanding with him.
In For Whom the Bell Tolls, we see that Robert Jordan plays a role of such a 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 view 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.
As the action of the novel proceeds, Jordan’s task gets more and more complicated. Pablo is absolutely against Jordan’s plan. 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. The reason being, Hemingway’s heroes always like to face risks like Santiago in 'The Old man and the Sea', Jake Barnes in 'The Sun Also Rises', Frederic Henry in 'A Farewell to Arms' and Jordan in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.
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.
There is no doubt in saying that he becomes a new man after the arrival of Maria in his love and he starts living only for Maria’s sake. His love for Maria and his risky mission of blowing up the bridge becomes one because fascists have now become his personal revenge for him as they rape his sweetheart.
Hemingway’ writings because his heroes often fail in their struggle and get nothing in the end. Santiago in 'The Old man and the Sea', Romero in 'The Sun also Rises' and Jordan in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' can be best quoted in this regard.
∆ Conclusion :
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. 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.
Thank you...
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