Karkov Character Analysis in For Whom the Bell Tolls

Karkov is a Russian reporter for Pravda, a Soviet newspaper, and a close friend of Robert Jordan whom he meets at the Hotel Gaylord, a popular Russian spot in Madrid. Karkov is Anselmo’s counterpart, fiercely committed to morality, justice, and the Republican cause. Karkov is also “the most intelligent man” Robert Jordan has ever met, with “more brains and more inner dignity […] than any man that he had ever known.” Karkov ends up saving Andrés and Gomez when André Marty accuses them of being fascist spies, and he believes that Jordan is a talented writer, having read the one book Jordan published about his experiences in and observations of Spain. Karkov gives Jordan information about the war because he believes that he is a strong reporter, capable of delivering the truth: Karkov himself is devoted to the pursuit of truth and the defeat of the fascists, whose actions conflict with his own Communist leanings.

Karkov Character Timeline in For Whom the Bell Tolls

The timeline below shows where the character Karkov 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

...Florida Hotel for a hot bath. After, he would go to Gaylord’s and eat with Karkov. (full context)

The Eternality of the Present Theme Icon

...Opera. Jordan recalls that Kashkin was the first to take him to Gaylord’s, to meet Karkov, “the most intelligent man he had ever met,” with “more brains and more inner dignity... (full context)

At the start of the war, Karkov had three wounded Russians in the Palace Hotel whom he was trying to keep safe;... (full context)

Jordan thinks about a British economist Karkov admired who had written about Spain. Once, he spotted the man during the afternoon that... (full context)

Jordan tells Karkov that he doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to be a professor when he returns... (full context)

Karkov tells Jordan that he thinks he writes “absolutely true,” and that is why he wants... (full context)

Jordan remembers that Karkov told him that after the war, he could go to the Lenin Institute in Moscow,... (full context)

...hotel is crowded with men and women drinking, some of them in uniform. The man, Karkov, goes to a woman in uniform; she is his wife, and he says something to... (full context)

A man of “middle height” with a “gray, heavy, sagging face” asks Karkov if he has heard the good news. The man says that the fascists have been... (full context)

Karkov goes over to another man, “short, chunky, jovial-looking,” a Hungarian divisional commander. Karkov asks him... (full context)

...them as human beings.” He looks at a map and is thinking about strategy when Karkov enters his room. (full context)

Marty is “worried and made wary” by Karkov, and whenever he interacts with Karkov, he finds it difficult to remember that he himself... (full context)