"For whom the Bell Tolls. For whom the bell tolls Hemingway for whom the bell tolls heroes

Year of writing:

1940

Reading time:

Description of the work:

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" was written in 1940 by Ernest Hemingway. This is a novel about Robert Jordan, a young American soldier who was sent to the rear of the Francoists.

This is happening in Spain, there is a Civil War. The novel features the heroine Maria, Jordan's beloved, whose prototype was Ingrid Bergman. It is interesting that three years later she played her role in the film of the same name. Read below a summary of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Summary of the novel
For whom the Bell Tolls

American Robert Jordan, who volunteered to participate in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Republicans, receives an assignment from the center - to blow up the bridge before the offensive. A few days before the offensive, he must spend at the location of a partisan detachment of a certain Pablo. They say about Pablo that at the beginning of the war he was very brave and killed the Nazis more than the bubonic plague, and then he became rich and now he would gladly retire. Pablo refuses to participate in this business, which promises only trouble for the detachment, but Jordan is unexpectedly supported by fifty-year-old Pilar, Pablo's wife, who is immeasurably more respected by the partisans than her husband. Anyone who seeks safety loses everything, she says. She is unanimously elected as the commander of the detachment.

Pilar is an ardent republican, she is devoted to the people's cause and will never deviate from the chosen path. Many talents are hidden in this strong, wise woman, she also has the gift of clairvoyance: on the very first evening, looking at Robert's hand, she realized that he was completing his life path. And then she saw that between Robert and the girl Maria, who nailed to the detachment after the Nazis killed her parents, and she herself was raped, a bright, rare in strength feeling flared up. She does not interfere with the development of their love relationship, and knowing how little time is left, she herself pushes them towards each other. All the time that Maria spent with the detachment, Pilar gradually healed her soul, and now the wise Spanish woman understands: only pure, true love will heal the girl. On the very first night, Maria comes to Robert.

The next day, Robert, having instructed old man Anselmo to watch the road, and Raphael to watch the change of sentries at the bridge, goes with Pilar and Maria to El Sordo, the commander of the neighboring partisan detachment. On the way, Pilar tells how the revolution began in a small Spanish town, in their homeland with Pablo, and how the people dealt with the local fascists there. People stood in two lines - one opposite the other, took up flails and clubs and drove the fascists through the line. This was done on purpose: so that everyone would bear their share of the responsibility. Everyone was beaten to death - even those who were reputed to be good people - and then thrown off a cliff into the river. Everyone died in different ways: some accepted death with dignity, and some whined and asked for mercy. The priest was killed right during prayer. Yes, apparently, God was canceled in Spain, sighs Pilar, because if he was, would he have allowed this fratricidal war? Now there is no one to forgive people - after all, there is neither God, nor the Son of God, nor the Holy Spirit.

Pilar's story evokes thoughts and memories of his own in Robert Jordan. The fact that he is now fighting in Spain is not surprising. His profession (he teaches Spanish at the university) and service are associated with Spain; he often visited here before the war, loves the people of Spain, and he does not care at all how the fate of this people will turn out. Jordan is not red, but no good can be expected from the Nazis. This means that this war must be won. And then he will write a book about everything and then he will finally be freed from the horror that accompanies any wars.

Robert Jordan suggests that in preparation for the blowing up of the bridge, he may die: he has too few people at his disposal - seven for Pablo and the same for El Sordo, but he has a lot to do: it is necessary to remove posts, cover the road, etc. happen that it was here that he met his first true love. Maybe this is all that he can still take from life? Or is it his whole life and instead of seventy years it will last seventy hours? Three days. However, there is nothing to grieve here: in seventy hours you can live a fuller life than in seventy years.

When Robert Jordan, Pilar and Maria, having received El Sordo's consent to get the horses and take part in the operation, return to the camp, it suddenly starts to snow. He knocks and knocks, and this phenomenon, unusual for the end of May, can ruin the whole business. In addition, Pablo drinks all the time, and Jordan is afraid that this unreliable person can do great harm.

El Sordo got hold of, as promised, horses in case of a retreat after a sabotage, but because of the snow falling, the fascist patrol notices traces of partisans and horses leading to the El Sordo camp. Jordan and the soldiers from Pablo's squad hear the echoes of the battle, but they cannot intervene: then the whole operation, so necessary for a successful offensive, can break down. The entire detachment of El Sordo perishes, the fascist lieutenant, bypassing the hill strewn with the corpses of partisans and soldiers, crosses himself and mentally utters what can often be heard in the republican camp: what a heinous thing is war!

Failures don't end there. On the night before the attack, Pablo escapes from the camp, taking with him a box with a fuse and fuse-fired skins - important things for sabotage. You can also manage without them, but it is more difficult, and the risk is greater.

Old man Anselmo reports to Jordan about the movements on the road: the Nazis are pulling up the equipment. Jordan writes a detailed report to the front commander, General Goltz, informing that the enemy clearly knows about the impending offensive: what Goltz hoped for - surprise, now will not work. The package to Golts agrees to deliver the partisans to Andrei. If he manages to deliver a report before dawn, Jordan has no doubts that the offensive will be postponed, and with it the date of the bridge explosion. But while we need to prepare ..

On the last night, lying next to Maria, Robert Jordan sums up his life and comes to the conclusion that it was not lived in vain. He is not afraid of death, only the thought scares him: what if he does not fulfill his duty properly. Jordan remembers his grandfather - he also participated in the Civil War, only in America - in the war between North and South. She must have been as scary as this one. And apparently, Anselmo is right when he says that those who fight on the side of the fascists are not fascists, but as poor as the people in the republican units. But it is better not to think about all this, otherwise the anger will disappear, and without it you cannot complete the tasks.

The next morning, Pablo unexpectedly returns to the detachment, he brought people and horses with him. Throwing Jordan's detonator into the abyss under a hot hand, he soon felt remorse and realized that he was simply not able to be alone in safety when his former comrades were fighting. Then he developed a frantic activity, all night gathering volunteers in the vicinity for an action against the Nazis.

Not knowing whether Andres got to Golts with a report or not, Jordan and the partisans take off and move through the gorge to the river. It was decided to leave Maria with the horses, and the rest to do - in case of an offensive - with their own business. Jordan and Old Man Anselmo walk down to the bridge and remove the sentries. The American is setting up dynamite at the pillars. Now, whether the bridge will be blown up depends only on whether the offensive starts or not.

And in the meantime, Andres can not get through to Golts in any way. Having overcome the initial difficulties in crossing the front line, when he was almost blown up by a grenade, Andres gets stuck at the very last stage: he is detained by the chief commissar of the International Brigades. War isn't just changing people like Pablo. The commissar has recently become very suspicious, he hopes that he will succeed, having detained this man from the fascist rear, to catch Golts in ties with the enemy.

When Andres finally miraculously reaches Golts, it is already too late: the offensive cannot be canceled.

The bridge was blown up. The explosion kills old man Anselmo. Those who survived are in a hurry to retreat. During the retreat, a shell explodes next to Jordan's horse, which falls and crushes the rider. Jordan has a broken leg and realizes that he cannot ride with the others. The main thing for him is to convince Mary to leave him. After what they had, Jordan tells the girl, they will always be together. She will take him with her. Wherever she goes, he will always be with her. If she leaves, he will leave too - so she will save him.

Left alone, Jordan freezes in front of the machine gun, leaning against the trunk of a tree. The world is a good place, he thinks, worth fighting for. You have to kill if you need to - just don't love killing. And now he will try to end his life well - to detain the enemy here, at least to kill the officer. It can solve a lot.

And then an officer of the enemy army leaves the clearing ...

Please note that the summary of the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" does not reflect the full picture of the events and the characterization of the characters. We recommend that you read the full version of the work.

For whom the Bell Tolls
Summary of the novel
American Robert Jordan, who volunteered to participate in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Republicans, receives an assignment from the center - to blow up the bridge before the offensive. A few days before the offensive, he must spend at the location of a partisan detachment of a certain Pablo. They say about Pablo that at the beginning of the war he was very brave and killed the Nazis more than the bubonic plague, and then he became rich and now he would gladly retire. Pablo refuses to participate in this case, promising a detachment

Trouble, but Jordan is unexpectedly supported by fifty-year-old Pilar, Pablo's wife, who is immeasurably more respected by the guerrillas than her husband. Anyone who seeks safety loses everything, she says. She is unanimously elected as the commander of the detachment.
Pilar is an ardent republican, she is devoted to the people's cause and will never deviate from the chosen path. Many talents are hidden in this strong, wise woman, she also has the gift of clairvoyance: on the very first evening, looking at Robert's hand, she realized that he was completing his life path. And then she saw that between Robert and the girl Maria, who nailed to the detachment after the Nazis killed her parents, and she herself was raped, a bright, rare in strength feeling flared up. She does not interfere with the development of their love relationship, and knowing how little time is left, she herself pushes them towards each other. All the time that Maria spent with the detachment, Pilar gradually healed her soul, and now the wise Spanish woman understands: only pure, true love will heal the girl. On the very first night, Maria comes to Robert.
The next day, Robert, instructing old man Anselmo to watch the road, and Raphael to watch the change of sentries at the bridge, goes with Pilar and Maria to El Sordo, the commander of the neighboring partisan detachment. On the way, Pilar tells how the revolution began in a small Spanish town, in their homeland with Pablo, and how the people dealt with the local fascists there. People stood in two lines - one opposite the other, took up flails and clubs and drove the fascists through the line. This was done on purpose: so that everyone would bear their share of the responsibility. Everyone was beaten to death - even those who were reputed to be good people - and then thrown off a cliff into the river. Everyone died in different ways: some accepted death with dignity, and some whined and asked for mercy. The priest was killed right during prayer. Yes, apparently, God was abolished in Spain, sighs Pilar, because if he were, would he have allowed this fratricidal war? Now there is no one to forgive people - after all, there is neither God, nor the Son of God, nor the Holy Spirit.
Pilar's story evokes thoughts and memories of his own in Robert Jordan. The fact that he is now fighting in Spain is not surprising. His profession (he teaches Spanish at the university) and service are associated with Spain; he often visited here before the war, loves the people of Spain, and he does not care at all how the fate of this people will turn out. Jordan is not red, but no good can be expected from the Nazis. This means that this war must be won. And then he will write a book about everything and then he will finally be freed from the horror that accompanies any wars.
Robert Jordan suggests that in preparation for the blowing up of the bridge, he may die: he has too few people at his disposal - seven for Pablo and the same for El Sordo, but there is plenty to do: it is necessary to remove posts, cover the road, etc. happen that it was here that he met his first true love. Maybe this is all that he can still take from life? Or is it his whole life and instead of seventy years it will last seventy hours? Three days. However, there is nothing to grieve here: in seventy hours you can live a fuller life than in seventy years.
When Robert Jordan, Pilar and Maria, having received El Sordo's consent to get the horses and take part in the operation, return to the camp, it suddenly starts to snow. He knocks and knocks, and this phenomenon, unusual for the end of May, can ruin the whole business. In addition, Pablo drinks all the time, and Jordan is afraid that this unreliable person can do great harm.
El Sordo got hold of, as promised, horses in case of a retreat after a sabotage, but because of the falling snow, the fascist patrol notices traces of partisans and horses leading to the El Sordo camp. Jordan and the soldiers from Pablo's squad hear the echoes of the battle, but cannot intervene: then the whole operation, so necessary for a successful offensive, can break down. The entire detachment of El Sordo perishes, the fascist lieutenant, bypassing the hill strewn with the corpses of partisans and soldiers, crosses himself and mentally utters what can often be heard in the republican camp: what a heinous thing is war!
Failures don't end there. On the night before the attack, Pablo escapes from the camp, taking with him a box with a fuse and a beak of Ford skins - things important for sabotage. You can also manage without them, but it is more difficult, and the risk is greater.
Old man Anselmo reports to Jordan about the movements on the road: the Nazis are pulling up the equipment. Jordan writes a detailed report to the front commander, General Goltz, informing that the enemy clearly knows about the impending offensive: what Goltz hoped for - surprise, now will not work. The package to Golts agrees to deliver the partisans to Andrei. If he manages to deliver a report before dawn, Jordan has no doubt that the offensive will be postponed, and with it the date of the bridge explosion. But while we need to prepare ...
On the last night, lying next to Maria, Robert Jordan sums up his life and comes to the conclusion that it was not lived in vain. He is not afraid of death, only the thought scares him: what if he does not fulfill his duty properly. Jordan remembers his grandfather - he also participated in the Civil War, only in America - in the war between North and South. She must have been as scary as this one. And apparently, Anselmo is right when he says that those who fight on the side of the fascists are not fascists, but as poor as the people in the republican units. But it is better not to think about all this, otherwise the anger will disappear, and without it you cannot complete the tasks.
The next morning, Pablo unexpectedly returns to the detachment, he brought people and horses with him. Throwing Jordan's detonator into the abyss under a hot hand, he soon felt remorse and realized that he was simply not able to be alone in safety when his former comrades were fighting. Then he developed a frantic activity, all night gathering volunteers in the vicinity for an action against the Nazis.
Not knowing whether Andres got to Golts with a report or not, Jordan and the partisans take off and move through the gorge to the river. It was decided to leave Maria with the horses, and the rest to do - in case of an offensive - with their own business. Jordan and Old Man Anselmo walk down to the bridge and remove the sentries. The American is setting up dynamite at the pillars. Now, whether the bridge will be blown up depends only on whether the offensive starts or not.
And in the meantime, Andres can not get through to Golts in any way. Having overcome the initial difficulties in crossing the front line, when he was almost blown up by a grenade, Andres gets stuck at the very last stage: he is detained by the chief commissar of the International Brigades. War isn't just changing people like Pablo. The commissar has recently become very suspicious, he hopes that he will succeed, having detained this man from the fascist rear, to catch Golts in ties with the enemy.
When Andres finally miraculously reaches Golts, it is already too late: the offensive cannot be canceled.
The bridge was blown up. The explosion kills old man Anselmo. Those who survived are in a hurry to retreat. During the retreat, a shell explodes next to Jordan's horse, which falls and crushes the rider. Jordan has a broken leg and realizes that he cannot ride with the others. The main thing for him is to convince Mary to leave him. After what they had, Jordan tells the girl, they will always be together. She will take him with her. Wherever she goes, he will always be with her. If she leaves, he will leave too - so she will save him.
Left alone, Jordan freezes in front of the machine gun, leaning against the trunk of a tree. The world is a good place, he thinks, worth fighting for. You have to kill if you need to - just don't love killing. And now he will try to end his life well - to detain the enemy here, at least to kill the officer. It can solve a lot.
And then an officer of the enemy army leaves the clearing ...

You read at once: Summary For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemingway Ernest

For whom the Bell Tolls?

The entire phrase reads like this: « ... never send to find out for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for you too "... Its author is the English poet of the first third of the seventeenth century John Donne (1572-1631).
He was a lawyer, member of parliament, traveled to Italy and Spain, after renouncing the Catholic faith, became an Anglican priest. Out of love, he secretly married the niece of the Lord Guardian of the Royal Seal, Thomas Edgerton, whose secretary was. After the secret was revealed, he lost this position. Anna gave birth to Donna 12 children (three - Francis, Nicholas and Mary - died before reaching the age of 10) and died in childbirth (the last, twelfth, the child was born still). After Lucy, the poet's beloved daughter, died, and he himself almost followed her to the grave, Donne wrote "Appeals to the Lord in an hour of need and trouble" (1624): "The death of every person also belittles me, for I am one with all of humanity. And therefore "

Today, an expression is a statement of human powerlessness in the face of providence. After all, it is impossible to determine the sequence of events that will affect his life. An incident, someone's act, a spoken word, at first glance distant, uninteresting, insignificant, suddenly directly affects the fate of those who have nothing to do with them

The phrase "For Whom the Bell Tolls" became famous thanks to the novel of the same name about the Spanish Civil War by the American writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), written in 1940. The epigraph to the novel is D. Donne's lines

"There is no person who would be like an Island, in itself: each person is a part of the Continent, a part of Land; and if the Wave sweeps the coastal Cliff into the sea, Europe will become smaller, and also if it washes away the edge of the Cape or destroys your Castle or your Friend ; the death of each Man belittles me too, for I am one with all Humanity, and therefore never ask for whom the Bell tolls: it tolls for You "

Use of phraseological units in literature

— "And therefore do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it rings for you, it appeals to conscience and responsibility"(Alexander Yakovlev "Omut of memory")
— “No, nothing is over in Spain yet, but how has everything changed in ourselves and around us since then, although Hemingway had not yet written“ For Whom the Bell Tolls ”(L. K. Chukovskaya "Dash")
— “After all, he was twenty years older than Golyamin, but he put him down in the spirit of Philip from“ The Fifth Column ”or Robert Jordan -“ For Whom the Bell Tolls ”(Yuri Nagibin "Riot Island")
— "The commander himself only replaced the arrested" enemies "with new commanders, not listening yet" for whom the bell is ringing "(A. G. Kolmogorov "I inherited: Family chronicles of Nadezhda Lukhmanova")

Pilar is an ardent republican, she is devoted to the people's cause and will never deviate from the chosen path. Many talents are hidden in this strong, wise woman, she also has the gift of clairvoyance: on the very first evening, looking at Robert's hand, she realized that he was completing his life path. And then I saw that between Robert and the girl Maria, who had nailed to the detachment after the Nazis killed her parents, and she herself was raped, a bright, rare in strength feeling flared up. She does not interfere with the development of their love relationship, and knowing how little time is left, she herself pushes them towards each other. All the time that Maria spent with the detachment, Pilar gradually healed her soul, and now the wise Spanish woman understands: only pure, true love will heal the girl. On the very first night, Maria comes to Robert.

The next day, Robert, having instructed old man Anselmo to watch the road, and Raphael to watch the change of sentries at the bridge, goes with Pilar and Maria to El Sordo, the commander of the neighboring partisan detachment. On the way, Pilar tells how the revolution began in a small Spanish town, in their homeland with Pablo, and how the people dealt with the local fascists there. People stood in two lines - one opposite the other, took up flails and clubs and drove the fascists through the line. This was done on purpose: so that everyone bears his own share of the responsibility. Everyone was beaten to death - even those who were reputed to be good people - and then thrown off a cliff into the river. Everyone died in different ways: some accepted death with dignity, and some whined and asked for mercy. The priest was killed right during prayer. Yes, apparently, God was abolished in Spain, sighs Pilar, because if he were, would he have allowed this fratricidal war? Now there is no one to forgive people - after all, there is neither God, nor the Son of God, nor the Holy Spirit.

Pilar's story evokes thoughts and memories of his own in Robert Jordan. The fact that he is now fighting in Spain is not surprising. His profession (he teaches Spanish at the university) and service are connected with Spain; he often visited here before the war, loves the people of Spain, and he does not care at all how the fate of this people will turn out. Jordan is not red, but no good can be expected from the Nazis. This means that this war must be won. And then he will write a book about everything and then he will finally be freed from the horror that accompanies any wars.

Failures don't end there. On the night before the attack, Pablo escapes from the camp, taking with him a box with a fuse and a fuse cord - important things for sabotage. You can also manage without them, but it is more difficult, and the risk is greater.

Old man Anselmo reports to Jordan about the movements on the road: the Nazis are pulling up the equipment. Jordan writes a detailed report to the front commander, General Goltz, informing that the enemy clearly knows about the impending offensive: what Goltz hoped for - surprise, now will not work. The partisan Andres agrees to deliver the package to Golts. If he manages to deliver a report before dawn, Jordan has no doubt that the offensive will be postponed, and with it the date of the bridge explosion. But while we need to prepare ...

When Andres finally miraculously reaches Golts, it is already too late: the offensive cannot be canceled.

And then an officer of the enemy army leaves the clearing ...

Retold

The novel's unusual title dates back to a sermon by John Donne, who lived in the 17th century. Donne was an English priest. In his spare time, he wrote poetry. Hemingway used an excerpt from the priest's sermon as an epigraph for his work. The novel was published in 1940. The writer admitted that creating the image of Mary, he imagined Ingrid Bergman. A few years later, the famous actress actually played the role of a partisan in the film of the same name.

The action takes place in Spain in 1937. American Robert Jordan, fighter of the International Brigades, arrives behind Franco lines. Jordan is accepted into Pablo's guerrilla unit. It is known about the leader of the detachment that at the beginning of the war he managed to exterminate a huge number of fascists. Pablo was able to get rich. He dreams of retiring as soon as possible.

Jordan, being a subversive expert, came to the squad with a special mission: to blow up the bridge. This is the only way to block the path of Franco reinforcements to Segovia. Pablo is confident that the operation will only bring trouble for the detachment and refuses to participate in the destruction of the bridge. The American is unexpectedly supported by Pilar, Pablo's wife. This already middle-aged woman enjoys considerable respect among the partisans. Pilar argues that you can lose everything in your search for security. The partisans chose Pablo's wife as the commander of their detachment.

The American falls in love with Maria. The fascists abused the girl, and her parents were killed. Left without a family, Maria decided to join the partisans. The romance between Jordan and a Spanish girl develops very quickly. Already on the first night of Robert's stay in the detachment, Maria comes to him.

Part of the novel is devoted to Pilar's story about the beginning of the revolution in her hometown, as well as the main character's reflections on his past and present. Jordan had a lot to do with Spain. He is glad that he will help the Spanish people and that he has finally met his true love. However, Robert is afraid that he might die when the bridge was blown up. But death itself does not frighten him. Jordan wants to live in order to have time to enjoy the love that fate has sent him. In the end, the protagonist comes to the conclusion that it is much better to live a short but eventful life than a long but boring life.

Jordan, Pilar and Maria go to El Sordo, the commander of another guerrilla unit, to ask for his help. It snowed suddenly. Snowfall at the end of May is a rather unusual phenomenon. Robert fears that a change in the weather could disrupt the impending operation. In addition, he is worried about Pablo, who is constantly drunk. Collaboration with an untrustworthy person can end badly. The situation is complicated by the fact that El Sordo's detachment was forced to engage in battle with the Nazis. All the partisans were killed.

Jordan didn't trust Pablo for nothing. The former commander of the detachment secretly left his comrades, taking with him some items necessary for the explosion. A sabotage, however, can be organized without them, but the operation will be more dangerous. Pablo returned on the day the explosion was scheduled. He claims to have repented and realized his betrayal. Pablo managed to gather a detachment of volunteers to help the partisans.

Robert still managed to blow up the bridge. He did not die as expected, but by a tragic accident he broke his leg. Jordan could no longer retreat with his comrades in arms. Maria doesn't want to leave him. But the main character persuades the girl to leave. The novel ends with Robert being left alone under a tree. He wants to end his life with dignity. Jordan is waiting for the enemy squad to open fire on him.

Characteristics of the characters

Robert Jordan and Pilar deserve the reader's attention more than other characters. They are not opposed, but they are not similar to each other.

Pilar is dedicated to her cause. She is a Republican by conviction and will never give up the path she has chosen. Like many gypsies, Pilar possesses the mystical gift of clairvoyance. The gypsy, examining the palms of Robert, predicts his imminent death. Noticing that Jordan and Maria are imbued with mutual sympathy, Pilar pushes them towards each other. Robert has not long left, he must get everything from life, and for a girl, love can become a real healing. For Maria, the gypsy becomes a real mother. After the death of her parents, Pilar was the only person able to comfort Maria.

Despite her prophetic gift, the gypsy expresses atheistic ideas that God obviously does not exist. If he existed, he would not allow bloodshed and cruelty. Pilar is distinguished by an uncharacteristic patriotism for Roma. She is attached to her country and wants to devote her life to the struggle for the happiness of her compatriots.

Robert Jordan

Robert could not stay away from the tragedy that the Spanish people were going through. He has much in common with Spain, he often visited here before the start of the war. In his home country, Robert teaches Spanish at the university. Jordan is not politically inclined. He stands on the side of the people, not the authorities. The war must be won by all means, says Robert. And when it's over, he will write a book about his adventures in Spain.

Heroic deed

The main character is not afraid of death. He believes that he did not live his life in vain. His only desire is to fulfill his last duty, to detain the enemy and to enable the partisan detachment to escape from pursuit.

The night before the sabotage, Robert remembers his grandfather, who also fought. He participated in the war between the southern and northern states. To fail the operation for Robert means to defile the memory of his grandfather. In the depths of his soul, the main character understands that the same simple poor people are fighting on the side of the Nazis, like those among whom he was. But Robert tries to drive these thoughts away from himself so as not to feel pity for the "enemy".

Be sure to read Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, for which the author received the Nobel Prize. This is a book about life and the struggle for your place in the sun.

In the next article, we will look at Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms, in which an author who fought in World War I declares that it is meaningless and unjustified.

Robert Jordan can be considered a fatalist. He received a prophecy from a gypsy woman and reconciled with it in advance. Jordan was not killed in the explosion. A fracture is not a reason to prepare for death. The main character could be taken care of by his new friends. However, Robert decides to submit. The author sympathizes with the main character. That is why the ending of the novel remains open. The possible death of Jordan turned out to be behind the scenes, and the reader had a hope that a brave honest man still survived.

One of the main purposes of the novel is to make the reader think about the essence of war or revolution. Civil war is a very special armed conflict. When an enemy comes from another country, no one has a question whether he needs to be destroyed. Of course you need to. People must unite and get rid of the invader by common forces. However, when citizens of the same state consider each other as enemies, many may have a question about the justice of such enmity.

Gypsy Pilar notes that violence comes not only from the Nazis, but also from the Republicans. The constant bloodshed turns even fighters for the benefit of the oppressed into monsters. But on the other hand, war does not impart cruelty to a person. It only awakens what was already in it. At the same time, war is also not capable of depriving people of their best qualities.

The most important and just thoughts are expressed by Jordan himself at the end of the novel. He has a few free minutes left. Perhaps in a quarter of an hour he will be dead. But there is no regret for the deed. Robert believes that the world, in spite of everything, is a wonderful, wonderful place. In him there is not only violence and cruelty, but also love for which it is worth living and dying. Jordan is convinced that killing is justified if it is necessary to protect the world. The only thing you shouldn't do is love killing, enjoy the violence.