For whom the Bell Tolls

For whom the Bell Tolls is one of the most outstanding novels of the American writer and journalist Ernest Hemingway. Its original version in English -For Whom the Bell Tolls- It was published in New York in October 1940. In 1999, the work was included in the list of "The 100 books of the century", created by the Parisian newspaper Le Monde.

The narrative takes place in the second year of the Spanish Civil War; at that moment, its protagonist lives a love story in the middle of the armed conflict. The Novel Prize for Literature created this novel based on his professional experiences as a war correspondent. In addition, he included some personal topics, such as his nationality and his father's suicide. The Spanish version of the book was published in 1942 in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Summary of For whom the Bell Tolls

Initial offensive

In the early morning of May 30, 1937, the Republicans carried out the precursor attack of the Segovia offensive. After the success of the attack, General Golz assigns an important mission ­the American volunteer and explosives specialist, Robert Jordan. He is informed that must blow up a bridge to avoid a possible counterattack by the nationals.

Work begins

The American goes to the Sierra de Guadarrama, place near the enemy trench, there he has the guidance of old soldier Anselmo. Robert must contact the subversive groups that are in the area to help him with the task. Initially meets with Pablo, who leads a group of guerrillas, but that, in the first instance, he does not agree with Jordan.

In this meeting there is also Pablo's wife — Pilar—, who, after her partner's refusal, reveals herself, convinces the group and becomes the new leader. Being there, Jordan meets Maria, a beautiful young woman who manages to captivate him at first sight. While they plan the attack, love is born between the two, so much so that Robert dreams of a future with the beautiful woman.

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Plan consolidation

With the intention of strengthening the strategy, Jordan contacts other guerrillas led by El Sordo, who has also agreed to collaborate. From that moment on, Robert begins to panic, as everything points towards a suicide mission. Thus, this group of patriots carries out its objective with a common goal: to defend the Republic from the fascists, and to do everything without regard to dying in combat.

Analysis of For whom the Bell Tolls

Structure and type of narrator

By whom dobI ring the bells is a war novel that consists of 494 pages distributed throughout 43 chapters. Hemingway used an omniscient third-person narrator, who tells the plot through thoughts and descriptions of the protagonist.

Characters

Robert Jordan

He is an American teacher who a year ago joined the Republican struggle in the Civil War. He has specialized as a dynamiter and therefore must carry out a vital mission in the conflict. In the middle of work he falls in love with María, who makes him change his perspective on his life. However, all those feelings are overwhelmed by the atmosphere of death that surrounds the story.

María

She is a 19-year-old orphan who was rescued by Pablo's group, which is why she is Pilar's protégé. She suffered mistreatment from the fascists, who shaved her and left their mark. María falls in love with Robert, they both live passionate days, with many plans together, but that future falters due to the mission assigned to the American teacher.

Anselmo

He is a 68-year-old man, faithful companion of Jordan, loyal to his ideals and his compatriots. It is about a significant character in history, since thanks to his help, the protagonist manages to contact Pablo.

Pablo

He is the leader of a group of guerrillas. For a long time he was an excellent strategist, but he is going through a crisis that has led him to have problems with alcohol, to be suspicious and treacherous, which is why he loses the leadership of the front.

Pillar

Is the Pablo's wife, a strong, brave and fighter woman; very clear in her convictions. Despite his difficult character, he is a good person who inspires confidence in others. It is for this reason that he has no problems taking the reins of the group before Pablo's difficulties.

Adapting

After the impact of the book, in 1943 the film with the same name as the novel was released, produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Sam Wood. Its main protagonists were: Gary Cooper —who played Robert Jordan— and Ingrid Bergman —who played Maria. The shoot was a resounding film success and received nine Oscar nominations.

Curiosities

Songs in honor of the novel

Three important bands made musical compositions in honor of the work. These were:

• The American band Metallica presented in 1984 the song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" belonging to the album Ride the lightning
• In 1993, the British group Bee Gees released the song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on their album. Size Isn't Everything
• In 2007, the Spanish group Los Muertos de Cristo added to their album Libertarian Rhapsody Volume II, the theme: "For Whom The Bell Tolls"

Name of the novel

Hemingway titled the book inspired by a fraction taken from the work Devotions (1623) by the poet John Donne. The fragment is titled “With their slow sound they say: you will die”, part of it maintains: “The death of any man diminishes me because I am involved in the human race; therefore, never send to inquire for whom the bell tolls; they double for you ”.

About the Author

The writer and journalist Ernest Miller Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899 in Illinois (United States). His parents were Clarence Edmonds Hemingway and Grace Hall Hemingway, respected people in Oak Park. In the final phase of his secondary studies, he included journalism class. There he made several articles and in 1916 he managed to publish one of these in the school newspaper The Trapeze.

In 1917, he began his experience as a journalist at the newspaper Kansas City Star. Later, he attended World War I as an ambulance driver, but soon returned to his country to work in other media. In 1937, he was sent as a war correspondent to Spain, there he witnessed several armed conflicts of the time and for years he traveled all over the world.

Hemingway combined his work as a journalist with his passion as a writer, his first novel: Spring waters, came to light in 1926. Thus he presented a dozen works, in which his last publication in life stands out: The old man and the sea (1952). Thanks to this narrative, the author received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.

Author's novels

• The torrents of spring (1926)
• The Sun Also Rises (1926)
• A Farewell to Arms (1929)
• To Have and Have Not (1937)
• For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)
• Across the River and into the Trees (1950)
• The Old Man and the Sea (1952)
• Islands in the stream (1970)
• The garden of eden (1986)
• True at first light (1999)