El Sordo Character Analysis in For Whom the Bell Tolls

El Sordo, also known as Santiago, is an older man and a leader of another guerilla group that Robert Jordan, Pilar, and the other guerillas enlist to help with the upcoming offensive on the bridge. El Sordo means “the deaf one” in Spanish, referring to El Sordo’s partial deafness; though handicapped, he is a determined fighter, similar to Pilar and Robert Jordan, and he is not afraid of death or committing acts of violence. His guerilla group is stronger and more organized than Pilar’s, though they are still defeated easily by the fascists, suggesting that no Republican, no matter how dedicated, can successfully resist the fascist forces.

El Sordo Character Timeline in For Whom the Bell Tolls

The timeline below shows where the character El Sordo appears in For Whom the Bell Tolls. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Violence, Cowardice, and Death Theme Icon

...five “good” men, since Rafael is worthless and she does not trust Pablo, and El Sordo, another leader of a guerrilla group and a “very practical man,” has eight. The woman... (full context)

...that they have to guard the explosive, since Pablo is not to be trusted; El Sordo, though, is just as good as Pablo is bad. However, this is Pablo’s country, and... (full context)

...washing dishes while Maria dries them. Pablo’s wife says that it is strange that El Sordo hasn’t come to the camp yet, and that they will have to visit him tomorrow.... (full context)

...killed Pablo. Jordan laughs him off and says that he is going to see El Sordo. (full context)

The Eternality of the Present Theme Icon

...dream that they have now woken from. Pilar decides that they will walk to El Sordo, and she tells Jordan that “there is no sickness” in Maria, though “there could have... (full context)

...Maria. Pilar says she will leave him alone with Maria after they have seen El Sordo, since “there is not much time” for them to be together. He asks her if... (full context)

As they are walking to El Sordo’s, Pilar asks Robert Jordan and Maria if they can rest, and she sits down by... (full context)

...if “Roberto (Robert Jordan) says we should go, I think we should go”—continuing on toward Sordo’s camp. Pilar says that she likes to talk, since “it is the only civilized thing”... (full context)

As they near El Sordo’s camp, Pilar asks Joaquin about the shooting of his family. Joaquin’s parents were socialists, and... (full context)

El Sordo emerges from his camp, a short, heavy man with a “hooked nose like an Indian’s.”... (full context)

Pilar asks where El Sordo thinks they should go after blowing up the bridge; she says she wants to go... (full context)

El Sordo says that “it is the morning that is difficult,” since blowing up the bridge would... (full context)

After eating, Robert Jordan, Maria, and Pilar leave El Sordo’s. Pilar is beginning to sweat, and her face looks pallid, so Jordan insists that they... (full context)

Back in the cave, Pilar tells Robert Jordan that El Sordo has been to visit them, though he left to look for horses. As he takes... (full context)

...and sell him to the fascists. Rafael suggests that they turn him over to El Sordo, who will sell him to the fascists for them, but Primitivo says that the fascists... (full context)

...Rafael are not. Jordan hears automatic rifle fire in the distance and surmises that El Sordo has been attacked. Though Agustin says that they should go aid them, Jordan insists that... (full context)

...cavalry riding uphill toward the firing. Though Primitivo insists that they go to aid El Sordo, Jordan says that it is impossible. El Sordo and his men are lost: they have... (full context)

Pilar approaches them and takes Jordan’s binoculars to see cavalry entering El Sordo’s territory. Jordan tells her that the combat seems “bad,” and that they can do nothing... (full context)

El Sordo does not like the hill where he is fighting, but he has no choice, since... (full context)

Sordo sees three dead bodies on the slope below him; there are other dead bodies on... (full context)

One of Sordo’s men says that Pilar knows that they are dying on the hill and is doing... (full context)

A voice nearby tells Sordo’s group to “surrender now before the planes blow you to pieces,” and Sordo takes his... (full context)

The fascist soldier who has been yelling at Sordo’s group runs by to the shelter of a boulder and meets a sniper there; the... (full context)

...alive except for Joaquin, whom Berrendo shoots in the back of the head, just as Sordo shot his wounded horse. Berrendo orders the beheading of El Sordo and makes the sign... (full context)

...hear more firing from the fascists. Jordan feels confident that the bombs didn’t touch El Sordo and his group, since the planes only “scare you to death.” But when he hears... (full context)

Primitivo’s voice breaks as he says that they left El Sordo alone: Jordan reminds him that they had no choice. They watch as horsemen come into... (full context)

...can back to the camp to bring the news, praying for the souls of El Sordo and his group and promising to carry out Robert Jordan’s plans. Fernando greets him as... (full context)

...that there are six dead on the hill, all beheaded. Jordan offers Anselmo some of Sordo’s whiskey, and Anselmo reports that there was movement on the road where he was posted,... (full context)

Pablo tells Robert Jordan not to be “disheartened” about Sordo’s death. He says that he has been impressed by Jordan’s judgment that day, and that... (full context)

...to Golz earlier, but he did not know what was going to happen with El Sordo before. Jordan tells himself that he will either have to blow up the bridge in... (full context)

...thinks that the mission is impossible, since they were “as sunk when [the fascists] attacked Sordo as Sordo was sunk when the snow stopped.” He realizes that they will not be... (full context)

...falling of the bombs.” Pilar says that she has understood this since they were at Sordo’s, and Jordan asks Pablo if he, too, understands; he says that he does, though they... (full context)