Responsibility Of Maria To Robert Jordan example essay topic

Hemingway's Hero in For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway, a rugged and well-traveled author, reemerged into the literary light after years of drought. During the mid-1900's he came into the true prime of his career initiated by a Spanish Civil War novel titled For Whom the Bell Tolls. In this novel, Hemingway delineates his Code Hero even more clearly than in his previous works. The hero will become disillusioned with his view of a disparaging world; however, he will face this society with true grace and a carpe diem mentality to find the beauties in life. Robert Jordan fits perfectly into the mold of the Code Hero while discovering the few beauties of life at the cost of the emotional and physical throes of war. The novel centers on an American partisan named Robert Jordan fighting for the anti-fascist cause in Spain with the aide of a band of guerillas.

He springs from the weights of war by finding love inside this band and eventually a tragic but heroic death. In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway thoroughly emphasizes the three characteristics of responsibility, disillusionment in war, and grace under pressure in Robert Jordan's path to becoming the Code Hero. During war, the leader always has multiple and excessive responsibilities. In Robert Jordan's case there is no difference except, perhaps, in his love of Maria. With time running low, Jordan knows that he must love Maria tremendously in case death ends their relationship. He quickly sees the realization that "a willingness to accept gratefully life's few moments of pleasure" ("Hemingway" 1) will make what time they have left enjoyable.

Even before they speak, Robert and Maria believe that they are in love. Pilar, the stern voice of wisdom, has rescued Maria from death and holds onto the girl with undying responsibility. On the way back from El Sordo's, Pilar gives up responsibility of Maria to Robert Jordan by telling him that he can have his rabbit (Hemingway 156; ch. 12). It is then that the realization of limited time hits Jordan. He knows he must start loving Maria like there truly is no tomorrow.

The best summation of this idea occurs when Robert talks to himself thinking, "make up in intensity what the relation will lack in duration and in continuity" (Hemingway 168; ch. 13). The responsibility of Maria and intensely loving Maria while time lasts is just part of his worries. The actual responsibilities in war are much more difficult to tend to. Robert faces the moral and the practical concerns in conducting his mission that is vital to the war. War will show responsibility in a hero by creating obstacles that he must defeat.

Critic Jackson Benson claims, "Forced by realistic circumstances to kill and to destroy, man can still act with principle within such a framework" (CLC), which describes Robert Jordan's goal in his mission. Jordan must kill in these circumstances, but he has a responsibility to do so in a respectable manner. Robert Jordan does kill a fascist cavalry and a sentry, but neither is gruesome. This is contrasted by Pilar's account of Pablo's slaughter of the fascist civilians. These deaths were committed without principle but horrid barbarity.

Pilar's experienced voice even admits that it was the worst day of her life (Hemingway 129; ch. 10). However, Jordan does act within principle while carrying out his actual responsibilities. The final responsibility is that of Jordan's mission.

He has many worries and fears that the mission may be a failure. Jordan remembers General Golz assigning him the dangerous mission and how much he had be worried (Hemingway 17; ch. 1). The responsibility of equipment and men worries Jordan throughout the novel.

When firing starts at El Sordo's, Jordan calms Primitive in telling him that they must not aid El Sordo. Jordan knows that he is responsible for this mission and cannot risk any of his men (Hemingway 296; ch. 25). During the final moments of the rising action, Jordan looks upon his demolition and his completed mission. His relief is seen but he feels unreal and losing touch with the present.

Jordan comforts himself in saying, "you have a let-down after responsibility" (Hemingway 452; ch. 43). Jordan handles his excessive responsibilities beautifully as any Code Hero would. As Robert Jordan is introduced, he is produced as a detached individual concentrating purely on his assignment. It appears that he is a tool of the General Golz to do a dangerous, but necessary mission. His motive for fighting has been separated from the original charismatic cause.

However, critic David Z ehr states that Hemingway goes beyond this production by retrieving his hero from the detachment and bringing him to his good values in a heroic death (CLC). At the beginning, Jordan talks with Anselmo of how dangerous the mission is for the people who must carry it out. Jordan reassures himself in an unfeeling statement saying, "You are instruments to do your duty" (Hemingway 43; ch. 3). Feeling estranged with his duty, things become worse for Jordan when Pablo's drunkenness nearly starts a duel between the couple. Later he contemplates on his current life comparing it to a merry-go-round.

Life carries you up and suddenly lets you down and you " re back to where you started and you have accomplished nothing (Hemingway 225; ch. 18). Even after the bridge was blown and the dead lay scattered, Jordan is at his peak of disillusionment. What remained of his hope for a good life turned to bitter hatred - "Now it was over he was lonely, detached and unrelated and he hated everyone he saw" (Hemingway 447; ch.

43). Pablo, the best candidate for antagonist of the novel, is disillusioned from the beginning of the novel. His impacts on Jordan and the mission weigh greatly on the course of the hero. Pilar speaks to Jordan of how Pablo used to be a serious and barbaric fighter, but now he has lost all resolution by saying the metaphor, "The plug has been drawn and the wine has all run out of the skin" (Hemingway 89; ch. 9). During the course of the novel, Jordan and Pablo compete for the dominating male in the group.

They have their verbal skirmishes and Pablo almost tempts Jordan to pull a gun on the situation. Their issues come to a head when Pablo steals away with the necessary exploding equipment the eve of the mission. Jordan curses himself for being so stupid but knows he must find a way to destroy the bridge. After all, Pablo's disillusionment may cause Jordan his life (Hemingway 369; ch. 34). Pablo, however, does make a good try at redeeming himself by returning to the group with extra men on horseback.

Later when the bridge is detonated and kills Anselmo, Jordan directly blames Pablo's cowardice for the death of his old friend. At the peak of his own disillusionment, Jordan curses Pablo's lack of heart that caused a loss of life. Ironically, Jordan still puts faith in Pablo saying, "For it is thee who has the plan for this" (Hemingway 455; ch. 43) towards the climax of the novel.

Pablo kills the men on horse he brought with him and halfway returns to his old barbaric state. Pablo returns from the disillusionment and does what is necessary in war, which is extremely helpful to Jordan. The only way to rescue Jordan from the sunken pit of his disenchantment is by Jordan's display of grace under pressure. Hemingway's Code Hero comes across an epiphany that "the only victory that can be won from life lies in a graceful stoicism" ("Hemingway" 1). Jordan is portrayed from the beginning to have unfaltering qualities of discipline and stoicism. In his mission, Jordan is always on task and avoids superfluous wants.

In conversation with Pilar, Jordan claims to not let pleasures of women and alcohol "interfere with my work" (Hemingway 91; ch. 9). When the actual day of the mission has arrived, Jordan is totally prepared for his task. While working on the bridge he places explosives perfectly and carefully to make sure the bridge would crumble - "Thinking only of demolition, working fast and skillfully as a surgeon works" (Hemingway 436; ch. 43). Jordan carries out his mission to perfection with the supplies he has left and displays true grace under the pressure of the circumstances.

Jordan's grace under pressure is not only limited to his work; his grace is seen in death. Critic Stewart Sanderson believes that there is a slight change in the Heroic Code; Jordan faces his death alone but fearless (AVL). The brave decision of Jordan to go last in line across the open field leads directly to his death. By crossing last he puts himself in greater danger of being shot. This courage is seen in his comforting words to Maria -"It is later that they are always watching for" (Hemingway 458; ch. 43).

Jordan is shot and suffers a horrible injury to the leg that pins him to the ground. While lying injured, he calms Maria and tells her that his and her spirit will become one. He is the one dying, but he is also the one trying to make the situation easier (Hemingway 465; ch. 43).

After Maria is taken away with the others, Jordan lies on the field next to the upright and sobbing Agustin. The reliable Agustin asks Jordan if he wants him to shoot him to cease the excruciating pain. Jordan possesses an inner strength to decline the offer. An ordinary man would want to die, but Jordan stays strong (Hemingway; ch. 43). Agustin reluctantly leaves Jordan to die by the fascists hands.

As Jordan dies alone, he discourages himself to commit suicide by realizing he can still do something to help his friends and loved ones. Jordan finds a motive to keep living: shoot at the approaching fascists to give time for the band to escape. Jordan refuses to die so that he can help his friends buy a little time to escape. In a true portrayal of heroism, Jordan utters his final words saying, "then let me last until they come" (Hemingway 471; ch. 43). Robert Jordan, Hemingway's protagonist in For Whom the Bell Tolls, represents clearly the essence of the Code Hero by displaying the characteristics of responsibility, disillusionment in war, and grace under pressure.

Jordan retrieves himself from his ponderous problems of excessive responsibility and disillusionment by showing grace in a heroic death. The novel may have been written for a political reason: to warn against fascism and other power politics. However, many view For Whom the Bell Tolls to be one of the best portrayals of love, courage, and tragic heroism. Word count: 1,771.