For Whom the Bell Tolls Themes

Through the characters of Robert Jordan, Maria, Pilar, and Pablo in For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway examines the role of love and relationships in a time of crisis. The two main relationships described—between Jordan and Maria, and Pilar and Pablo—differ dramatically: Jordan and Maria’s love is pure and all-consuming, while Pilar and Pablo argue frequently, with Pilar often threatening to kill Pablo and take over his position in the guerilla…

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a distinctive work in part because Hemingway attempts to translate Spanish idioms and grammar directly, without removing their original contexts. The result is a novel that is acutely attuned to cultural differences. Instead of assimilating Spanish culture into a wholly American writing style, Hemingway combines the two, helping to express Spanish to an English-speaking audience. Similarly, Robert Jordan’s own experiences as an American fighting for the anti-fascist Spaniards…

Although the antagonizing fascists are a central topic of discussion in the novel, it is not until its end that Pablo, Pilar, and Robert Jordan’s guerilla group encounter the fascists themselves. It is immediately clear that the Republican fighters are outmatched: the novel ends with Robert Jordan confronting death and planning an act of sacrifice. The idea of the future plays a major role throughout For Whom the Bell Tolls, since…