Tomorrow, When the War Began

by

John Marsden

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Hell Symbol Icon

Hell is the remote Australian bush where Ellie and her friends go camping in Tomorrow, When the War Began, and it is symbolic of guilt and morality in John Marsden’s novel. Hell is a wild bit of nature up a treacherous rocky mountain, and Ellie and the others doubt anyone has ever been there. Except, of course, for the Hermit, the reclusive man who lived there years ago after allegedly killing his wife and infant son. When Ellie and her friends return from their camping trip to find their country invaded by an unknown foreign power, they decide to go right back to Hell, where they can be safe and hide from the army patrols searching the town and houses.

Hell’s landscape is beautiful, but after Ellie kills several soldiers trying to save herself and her friends, Hell becomes her self-imposed punishment and prison. Ellie deeply struggles with the legally and morally questionable things she has been forced to do during the war, and she thinks often about the Hermit. She finds his hut and his personal papers and discovers that he likely wasn’t guilty of killing his family after all, but he was still run out of town and made to live alone in the bush. Ellie decides that Hell isn’t really a place, but is instead other people. Hell would have followed the Hermit wherever he went, just like Ellie’s guilt and Hell will follow her, too. By the end of the novel, Ellie realizes that Hell isn’t just “a place where bad people go”—Hell is also being alone without your loved ones around to comfort you, just like the Hermit.

Hell Quotes in Tomorrow, When the War Began

The Tomorrow, When the War Began quotes below all refer to the symbol of Hell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

It was about half past two when we got to the top. Fi had ridden the last couple of k’s, but we were all relieved to get out of the Landie and stretch our bones. We came out on the south side of a knoll near Mt Martin. That was the end of the vehicle track: from then on it was shanks’s pony. But for the time being we wandered around and admired the view. On one side you could see the ocean: beautiful Cobbler’s Bay, one of my favourite places, and according to Dad one of the world’s great natural harbours, used only by the occasional fishing boat or cruising yacht. It was too far from the city for anything else. We could see a couple of ships there this time though; one looked like a large trawler maybe.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker), Fiona
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

Suddenly the loud buzzing became a roar. I couldn’t believe how quickly it changed. It was probably because of the high walls of rock that surrounded our campsite. And like black bats screaming out of the sky, blotting out the stars, a V-shaped line of jets raced overhead, very low overhead. Then another, then another, till six lines in all had stormed through the sky above me. Their noise, their speed, their darkness frightened me. I realised that I was crouching, as though being beaten. I stood up. It seemed that they were gone. The noise faded quickly, till I could no longer hear it. But something remained. The air didn’t seem as clear, as pure. There was a new atmosphere. The sweetness had gone; the sweet burning coldness had been replaced by a new humidity. I could smell the jet fuel. We’d thought that we were among the first humans to invade this basin, but humans had invaded everything, everywhere. They didn’t have to walk into a place to invade it. Even Hell was not immune.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker)
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 38-39
Explanation and Analysis:

I went for a walk back up the track, to the last of Satan’s Steps. The sun had already warmed the great granite wall and I leaned against it with my eyes half shut, thinking about our hike, and the path and the man who’d built it, and this place called Hell. “Why did people call it Hell?” I wondered. All those cliffs and rocks, and that vegetation, it did look wild. But wild wasn’t Hell. Wild was fascinating, difficult, wonderful. No place was Hell, no place could be Hell. It’s the people calling it Hell, that’s the only thing that made it so. People just sticking names on places, so that no one could see those places properly any more. Every time they looked at them or thought about them the first thing they saw was a huge big sign saying “Housing Commission” or “private school” or “church” or “mosque” or “synagogue.” They stopped looking once they saw those signs.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker), Homer, Fiona, The Hermit / Bertram Christie
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 43-44
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

Only humans knew about Hell; they were the experts on it. I remembered wondering if humans were Hell. The Hermit for instance; whatever had happened that terrible Christmas Eve, whether he’d committed an act of great love, or an act of great evil... But that was the whole problem, that as a human being he could have done either and he could have done both. Other creatures didn’t have this problem. They just did what they did. I didn’t know if the Hermit was a saint or a devil, but once he’d fired those two shots it seemed that he and the people round him had sent him into Hell. They sent him there and he sent himself there. He didn’t have to trek all the way across to these mountains into this wild basin of heat and rock and bush. He carried Hell with him, as we all did, like a little load on our backs that we hardly noticed most of the time, or like a huge great hump of suffering that bent us over with its weight.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker), The Hermit / Bertram Christie
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 215-216
Explanation and Analysis:

I too had blood on my hands, like the Hermit, and just as I couldn’t tell whether his actions were good or bad, so too I couldn’t tell what mine were. Had I killed out of love of my friends, as part of a noble crusade to rescue friends and family and keep our land free? Or had I killed because I valued my life above that of others? Would it be OK for me to kill a dozen others to keep myself alive? A hundred? A thousand? At what point did I condemn myself to Hell, if I hadn’t already done so? The Bible just said “Thou shalt not kill,” then told hundreds of stories of people killing each other and becoming heroes, like David with Goliath. That didn’t help me much.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker), The Hermit / Bertram Christie
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 216
Explanation and Analysis:
Epilogue Quotes

We’ve got to stick together, that’s all I know. We all drive each other crazy at times, but I don’t want to end up here alone, like the Hermit. Then this really would be Hell. Humans do such terrible things to each other that sometimes my brain tells me they must be evil. But my heart still isn’t convinced. I just hope we can survive.

Related Characters: Ellie (speaker), Homer, Lee, Fiona, The Hermit / Bertram Christie, Robyn, Chris
Related Symbols: Hell
Page Number: 284
Explanation and Analysis:
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Hell Symbol Timeline in Tomorrow, When the War Began

The timeline below shows where the symbol Hell appears in Tomorrow, When the War Began. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Writing and Storytelling Theme Icon
Tailor’s Stitch terminates in Hell, a remote bush full of boulders and feral animals. Hell is completely wild and untouched... (full context)
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Writing and Storytelling Theme Icon
First, Ellie must convince her parents to let her go camping in Hell with boys. Initially, Ellie’s parents are not so sure it’s a good idea. They recommend... (full context)
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Writing and Storytelling Theme Icon
Ellie’s parents finally agree to the camping trip in Hell, but they make Ellie promise that she will be the only one driving their Land... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...calls Fiona, but her parents say they want to think about it. Going camping in Hell for nearly a week with boys is a big deal. Ellie hangs up the phone... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Ellie calls Robyn next, who is really excited about camping in Hell, but she worries her parents won’t allow it. “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”... (full context)
Chapter 2
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Ellie plans to leave for Hell by 8:00 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m., the Land Rover is packed and the group... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...they must also get food into their packs. And it is a long walk into Hell. (full context)
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...they each carry three water bottles. They are hoping to find a water source in Hell. Ellie walks along with Lee, talking about horror movies, of which Lee is an expert.... (full context)
Chapter 3
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Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Writing and Storytelling Theme Icon
...a dense growth of green and brown bushes. Fiona comments how nice it is for Hell, and Robyn wonders if they are the only ones to ever set eyes on it,... (full context)
Chapter 4
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
That evening, Homer drops to his sleeping bag, exhausted. He comments about how great Hell is and then jumps off the sleeping bag like a rocket. A snake has crawled... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
...night air feels contaminated, and the unmistakable smell of jet fuel permeates the area. Maybe Hell isn’t so remote, Ellie thinks. (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...probably World War III. Australia could have been invaded, and they would never know in Hell. (full context)
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Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Ellie looks around and wonders why everyone calls this place Hell. It is wild, for sure, but is it really like Hell? She decides it isn’t.... (full context)
Chapter 5
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
On the last day in Hell, food is running short, but no one wants to walk back to the Land Rover... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
...the least conspicuous. On their last night, they played True Confessions, and Robyn confessed that Hell was the best place ever. She made them all promise to come back and to... (full context)
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...time the group sets off for the Land Rover. They put out the fire, bid Hell farewell, and begin the long and difficult walk up Tailor’s Stitch. Homer walks close to... (full context)
Chapter 6
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Lee reminds them of the hundreds of planes flying over Hell, and Ellie suddenly remembers the planes didn’t have lights. She hadn’t noticed it at the... (full context)
Chapter 7
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...They can’t wait any longer, so they peddle out of town “like bats out of Hell.” (full context)
Chapter 9
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...and thinks that it has been less than 24 hours since they came in from Hell and found their lives rearranged. Life can change in an instant, Ellie thinks, remembering all... (full context)
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Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...tools of every kind—and be ready to go. Kevin asks where they are going. “To Hell,” Homer says. (full context)
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...Kevin’s dad’s Ford, and then move on to the Land Rover. They will go to Hell tonight, but first, Homer thinks that he and Ellie should go into town and look... (full context)
Chapter 11
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...now. They can’t very well just drive to Ellie’s and lead the soldiers back to Hell and their friends. Homer has already thought of that and suggests they stop off at... (full context)
Chapter 12
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...is much better than yesterday. They have a whole day before they can go into Hell, according to their plan, so they decide to get some sleep. Chris isn’t tired—he’s been... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...anything from the course of the afternoon, and when it is time to leave for Hell, Homer refuses to let her drive. Ellie protests, reminding them what her dad said, but... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
When they get to Hell, Ellie somehow manages to hike and climbs in a tent next to Corrie, who is... (full context)
Chapter 13
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...it is time they decide what they are going to do—they can either stay in Hell and hide, or they can go out there and do something. Some of the soldiers... (full context)
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Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...of two into town for reconnaissance, and the rest of them can fortify basecamp in Hell. They have to get serious about sustainability and start hunting for food. Corrie suggests bringing... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...separately but keep in contact, and they are to only gather information. Ellie stays in Hell with Fiona, Lee, and Homer and is excited thinking of the upcoming days. She has... (full context)
Chapter 14
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...for planting, too. They grabbed six chickens and some wire fencing and headed back to Hell. Now, Ellie sits talking with Lee.  (full context)
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Writing and Storytelling Theme Icon
...and finds a field of roses on the other side. What are roses doing in Hell? Ellie wonders, and then she notices the hut. The door is nearly covered with vegetation,... (full context)
Chapter 15
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...all get up with the sun—a new habit that has come with their move to Hell—and decide the day’s work. They will work most of the morning and then go out... (full context)
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Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...time together and it doesn’t work out? They will both still have to live in Hell regardless, and she doesn’t want there to be tension between them. Lee says he loves... (full context)
Chapter 16
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Up at the entrance to Hell, Ellie, Fiona, and Homer set out to better conceal the Land Rover in case anyone... (full context)
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Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
The moon is bright when Ellie begins her hike into Hell, and “dead wood gleams like bones” ahead of her. She thinks that she should be... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...friends or value for her own life. Like the Hermit, she has “condemned [herself] to Hell” either way. All laws, Ellie thinks, seem “artificial and basic,” whether they’re human, moral, or... (full context)
Chapter 17
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...Chris return from town. They didn’t tell Homer and Fiona much on the way into Hell, since they don’t want to tell the story twice. The minute they sit down for... (full context)
Chapter 18
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...The way he sees it, they all have three choices. One, they can stay in Hell, hide out, and do nothing. There is no shame in that, he says. After all,... (full context)
Chapter 22
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
...disappear down the road. The others stand behind her. “Let’s go home,” Homer says, “to Hell.” (full context)
Epilogue
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Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence Theme Icon
Ellie doesn’t know how long they will be in Hell. They have chickens, and they planted a garden. They even have a few ferrets, which... (full context)
War, Law, and Morality Theme Icon
Family, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...Ellie doesn’t want to be alone and live like the Hermit. That would really be Hell, Ellie thinks. Ellie’s heart won’t let her believe that people are basically evil, regardless of... (full context)