As a character, Primitivo is less fleshed-out than the other guerillas; he is described only as “flat-faced” but commended by Agustin for his “dependable value.” Like Agustin, Primitivo is motivated by a strong sense of duty: Primitivo and Agustin are motivated to save El Sordo and his group when they hear the other guerillas controlling a fascist attack up on the hills, but Robert Jordan refuses to let them leave the camp.
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Primitivo Character Timeline in For Whom the Bell Tolls
The timeline below shows where the character Primitivo appears in For Whom the Bell Tolls. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9
...him that they are engaged, and he takes back his remark. Fernando goes to relieve Primitivo of his post, and Agustin mocks him. Pilar tells Agustin that she is tired of...
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Chapter 14
...away, “tired and unsmiling.” Pablo says that Finito was “handicapped by his short stature,” and Primitivo adds that he was “tubercular.” Pilar says that it is natural for him to have...
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Chapter 16
...drunk and asks Jordan about the “skirts he wears,” confusing Americans with the Scotch (Scottish). Primitivo asks Jordan about the mountains and pastures in the United States, and Andrés asks about...
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Chapter 17
...the murder, too, though he was against it before. Eladio and Andrés (the brothers) and Primitivo agree, though Fernando asks if they could hold him as a prisoner instead and sell...
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Chapter 21
...up into the mountains. Pablo takes the soldier’s automatic rifle off of the horse, which Primitivo has retrieved, and he, Andrés, Fernando, Agustin, and Robert Jordan set off. Maria asks if...
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Chapter 22
Robert Jordan, Agustin, and Primitivo build an emplacement for the machine gun with pine branches and stones. Agustin tells Jordan...
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...“exempted” from war like conscientious objectors, since they are virtually worthless. He tells Agustin and Primitivo not to fire the machine gun if they see anyone, but to roll down a...
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Chapter 24
...to die “for the thing of tomorrow,” he will go “gladly.” He tells Jordan that Primitivo, Pilar, Anselmo, Andrés, Eladio, and Fernando are dependable, though Pablo and Rafael are not. Jordan...
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Chapter 25
...must leave them alone like they did before. He climbs up some boulders to where Primitivo is positioned and looks across the valley to see a troop of cavalry riding uphill...
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...the combat seems “bad,” and that they can do nothing for El Sordo. Pilar reprimands Primitivo for wanting to aid El Sordo, since it is a “useless” endeavor. The group watches...
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Chapter 28
The planes retreat, and Robert Jordan and Primitivo hear more firing from the fascists. Jordan feels confident that the bombs didn’t touch El...
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Primitivo’s voice breaks as he says that they left El Sordo alone: Jordan reminds him that...
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Chapter 43
Pilar’s band emerges: Primitivo and Rafael are supporting Fernando, who seems to have been shot through the groin. Jordan...
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...“one with all of the battle and with the Republic.” Further up the hill where Primitivo is, Pilar emerges and asks whether Robert Jordan is “building a bridge or blowing one.”...
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...horse,” bent sideways; he sees another flash from the tank, and his horse is hit. Primitivo and Agustin grab him under the armpits and drag him up the slope to a...
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