For Whom the Bell Tolls Report

Updated: May 15th, 2020

The novel ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ was published in 1940, written by the outstanding and famous author, Ernest Hemingway. A story of a young American man called Robert Jordan is well drafted, signaling International Brigades, particularly positioned at the republican guerrilla section in the Spainish Civil War (Hemingway par. 3).

Jordan was a dynamiter, a position that earned him the responsibility of blowing up the Segovia’s city bridges. Reviews done by Jeffrey Meyers indicated that the novel is one of the best modeled stories (Hemingway 27). Research indicates that the main reasons behind writing the book were to discourage the negative consequences cultivated by war.

Research indicated that Hemingway, born in Chicago suburb, in a family of six children, showed an interest in writing in early life (Wilson par. 5). This writing talents ware noted to contribute significantly to the high school’s student newspaper and magazine.

This is where the passion for writing books was cultivated (Hemingway 317). He, at one time, was a reporter with the Kansas City Star and was involved in the World War I and the World War II, which he borrowed lots of materials for his book ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (Wilson par. 2).

A number of authors of his time complemented his work. This is including the local high school he attended and the Kansas City Star stakeholders among others. Hemingway liked an outdoor life and gained instant popularity among his peers. At one time, he gained the title ‘Papa’ and ‘Champ’ and often rubbed shoulders with celebrities. It is argued that Hemingway was typical in nature, reflecting on that period (Hemingway par. 8).

The novel was written at the time of the Spanish Civil War in 1940. The war had started in the early 1930’s. Hemingway kept a close eye at the happenings in the war. It is believed that the war was mainly between the democracy and fascism. Hemingway was involved in the production of propaganda films and documentaries in the Spanish Civil War and, later, worked as a correspondent with the North American Newspaper (Hemingway 51).

This was the birth of this novel where Hemingway strongly expressed his feelings on war. The setting of the novel is estimated to be 1937; a period is characterized by the height of the war, hence, the novel is significant enough to the setting (Hemingway par. 1). The novel highlights the actual environment that prevailed at the time of the Spanish Civil War. The novel indicates the backdrop of the real action.

Hemingway was a direct character. Research indicates that he was actively involved in the Spanish Civil War, meaning that the drafting of the novel took a real time scenario. The novel is rich in individuality and originality. It has been noted that Hemingway was an outgoing person with a trait of collecting first hand information, a critical aspect in the drafting of the novel (Hemingway 208).

The novel has a number of themes. The existing themes observed include the theme of lost innocence, the theme of valuing human life, the theme of death and the theme of love. The most profound resonates with the theme of lost innocence in war (Wilson par. 7). This is noted particularly among the characters in the novel.

Research indicates that they lost physical and psychological innocence in the process of the war. Joaquin is subjected to trauma after the parents are dead; Maria lost physical innocence after being raped by soldiers. The theme of valuing human life is evident. A number of characters in the novel lost their lives, raising the questions of justifying human life. Anselmo is the one of the characters who fails to like the killings (Hemingway 343).

Pablo is a character comfortable with the killings of human beings (Wilson par. 3). Salvation in the face of romantic love theme is evident, this was noted when the novel values romantic love amidst war. This was noted in Finito and also in the love between Maria and Robert Jordan (Hemingway par. 6).

There are a number of unique literacy devices Hemingway applied identifying with motifs which represented the hares and the rabbits, the floor of the forest, suicide, the signs and Omens among other literacy devices. Symbols identified with Mortars, planes and tanks, and Absinthe among other symbols. Hemingway was influential in real life and in his writing (Hemingway 78).

Works Cited

Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls. New York: Scribner , 1995. Print.

Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls, Amazon.com Review. Web.

Wilson, Edmund. For Whom the Bell Tolls, Return of Ernest Hemingway. 14 June 2001. Web.

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