For Whom the Bell Tolls: Analysis of Major Characters
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a novel by Ernest Hemingway that explores the personal and ideological struggles of individuals during the Spanish Civil War. The story primarily revolves around Robert Jordan, an American expatriate and schoolteacher who fights for the Loyalist cause against Franco's Fascists. Jordan is depicted as a man grappling with disillusionment, yet he is deeply committed to the ideals of freedom and love, particularly for his romantic partner, Maria. Maria represents innocence and resilience, having endured immense trauma but finding solace and strength through her relationship with Jordan and the support of the guerrilla band led by Pilar.
Pilar, a strong and intelligent revolutionary, embodies both the emotional and strategic aspects of the struggle, navigating the complexities of loyalty and betrayal, particularly concerning her treacherous husband, Pablo. Pablo's character adds a layer of irony, as he oscillates between self-serving actions and moments of unexpected bravery. Other characters, like Anselmo, provide a contrast with their compassionate and selfless natures, highlighting the human cost of war and the varying motivations behind individual actions. The interactions and conflicts among these characters paint a vivid picture of the harsh realities of conflict, as well as the enduring hope for a better future amidst chaos.
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ernest Hemingway
First published: 1940
Genre: Novel
Locale: Spain
Plot: Impressionistic realism
Time: 1937
Robert Jordan, an American expatriate schoolteacher who has joined the Loyalist forces in Spain. Disillusioned with the world and dissatisfied with his own country, Jordan has come to Spain to fight and die, if necessary, for a cause he knows is vital and worthwhile: that of the native peasant free souls against the totalitarian cruelty of Francisco Franco and his Fascists. He is, however, aware of the contrast between his ideals and the realities he has found among narrow, self-important, selfish, bloodthirsty men capable of betrayal and cruelty as well as courage. He also finds love, devotion, generosity, and selflessness in the persons of Anselmo, Pilar, and especially Maria. The latter he loves with the first true self-lessness of his life, and he wishes to avenge her cruel suffering and someday make her his wife in a land free of oppression and cruelty. With bravery, almost bravado, he carries out his mission of blowing up a bridge and remains behind to die with the sure knowledge that in Maria and Pilar his person and ideals will survive. Successful for the first time in his life, in love and war, he awaits death as an old friend.
Maria, a young and innocent Spanish girl cruelly ravaged by war and men's brutality. Befriended by Pilar, a revolutionary, Maria finds a kind of security in the guerrilla band and love in her brief affair with Robert Jordan. As his common-law wife, almost all memory of her rape and indignities disappear, and at a moment of triumph for their forces it looks as if they will live to see their dreams of the future fulfilled. Elemental in her passions and completely devoted to her lover, she refuses to leave him and must be forced to go on living. The embodiment of Jordan's ideals, she must live.
Pilar (pee-LAHR), the strong, almost masculine leader of the guerrilla group with whom Jordan plans to blow up the bridge. Although a peasant and uneducated, Pilar has not only deep feeling but also a brilliant military mind; she is somewhat a Madame Defarge of the Spanish Civil War. Her great trial is her murderous, traitorous husband, whom she loves but could kill. Without fear for herself, she has sensitive feelings for Maria, who is suffering from her traumatic experiences as the victim of Fascist lust and cruelty behind the lines. Greatly incensed by inhumanities, Pilar valorously carries out her mission in destroying the bridge, the symbol of her vindictiveness.
Pablo (PAHB-loh), Pilar's dissolute, drunken, treacherous husband, a type of murderous peasant for whom nothing can be done but without whom the mission cannot be successfully carried out. A hill bandit, Pablo feels loyalty only to himself, kills and despoils at random, and is given to drinking and whoring at will. Nevertheless, he displays a kind of generosity, even after he has stolen the detonators and peddled them to the enemy, when he comes back to face almost certain death and to go on living with the wife whom he loves and fears. This admixture of cunning, cruelty, and bravado finally leads the band to safety. Pablo represents that irony of ways and means that war constantly confuses.
Anselmo (ahn-SEHL-moh), the representative of peasant wisdom, devotion to duty, high-mindedness, selfless love for humanity, and compassion for the human condition. Hating to kill but not fearing to die, Anselmo performs his duty by killing when necessary, but without rancor and with a kind of benediction; he dies as he lived, generously and pityingly. While the others of the guerrilla band are more of Pablo's persuasion, brutally shrewd and vindictive in loyalty, Anselmo tempers his devotion to a cause with a larger view. Aligned with Pilar and Jordan in this larger vision, he displays disinterested and kindly loyalty that is almost pure idealism, all the more remarkable for his age, background, and experience. The benignant, almost Christ-like Anselmo dies that others may live and that Robert Jordan may know how to die.
El Sordo (SOHR-doh), a Loyalist guerrilla leader killed in a Fascist assault on his mountain hideout.
General Golz (gohlz), the Russian officer commanding the Thirty-fifth Division of the Loyalist forces.
Karkov (KAHR-kof), a Russian journalist.
Andrés (ahn-DRAYS), a guerrilla sent by Robert Jordan with a dispatch for General Golz.
André Marty, the commissar who prevents prompt delivery of the dispatch intended for General Golz.
Rafael, a gypsy.
Agustín (ah-gews-TEEN), Fernando (fehr-NAHN-doh), Primitivo (pree-mee-TEE-voh), and Eladio (eh-LAH-dee-oh), other members of the guerrilla band led by Pablo and Pilar.