Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in For Whom the Bell Tolls, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love in War
Cultural Connections
Violence, Cowardice, and Death
The Eternality of the Present
Summary
Analysis
The planes retreat, and Robert Jordan and Primitivo 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 quiet from the hills at last, he knows that it is over. Maria has come up from the camp with food for the men, and he tells her that Sordo’s fighting is over. Jordan tells her that she can stay with him, but she says that she must return to Pilar, who is giving her “instruction.”
Robert Jordan initially feels optimistic about El Sordo’s chances against the fascists, but he quickly realizes that the Republicans have been overpowered. He also realizes that soon, his group will have to face the violence too, and that soon it will be over for all of them.
Themes
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 sight on the hill, some horses carrying bundles. What Jordan cannot see is that one saddle carries a “long rolled poncho” with Sordo’s automatic rifle on top. Berrendo, riding at the head of the horsemen column, feels “no arrogance,” only “hollowness.” He knows that beheading the men is “barbarous,” but he has to prove their identities. He thinks of his friend Julian, dead on the hill, and says a prayer for him again.
Hemingway again takes up the perspective of the fascist leader Berrendo, whose similarities to Robert Jordan are emphasized once more: Berrendo knows that beheading El Sordo is obscene and immoral, but he realizes that he has to prove to his commanders that he has killed El Sordo (just as Jordan feels discomfort with the act of killing, which he also treats as a necessary duty). Hemingway emphasizes that at least among the soldiers, fascists like Berrendo are also men with morals like Robert Jordan: even as the war divides the fighters, similarities remain.
Themes
Anselmo watches the fascists ride past him, counting them and feeling “a fear like a freezing of his heart.” He walks as fast as he 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 he enters the camp, saying that he has heard the news about Sordo: angered, he says that they “must do away with all such barbarians in Spain.” Anselmo says that they will have to take away the fascists’ weapons and “teach them dignity.”
The Republicans have different ideas about how to punish the fascists (were they to win the war). Fernando believes that the “barbarians” should be killed, while Anselmo believes that their weapons should be taken away to teach them about how to conduct themselves peacefully. Again, the Republicans display a range of ideas about vengeance, killing, and seeking peace and justice.
Themes
