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Analysis Of For Whom The Bell Toll By John Donne

Decent Essays

The introduction to For Whom The Bell Tolls is a poem by John Donne, of which the last line says “any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee” (Hemingway 3). This line encapsulates the theme of the novel and defines the novel's meaning. Robert Jordan the main character of the novel arrives in Spain as a volunteer, ready to fight and give his life for other people’s freedom and right to self determination. One of the reasons why this novel was so enjoyable was its focus on the individual and intense discussions about life and death and morality of killing for and idea. However, the reader can not help identifying with Jordan, as he plans his own future despite subconsciously understanding his fate.
For Whom The Bell Tolls takes place during the Spanish Civil War, during a time period when political divisions, between the right and Nd left were at all time highs around the world. The novel discusses an execution of the fascists in one of the main character, Pillar’s, town, and she describes how political beliefs became enough to kill someone for. “Don Guillermo was a fascist but otherwise there was nothing against him... He had a rude way of speaking and he was undoubtedly a fascist and a member of their club“and he sat at noon and at evening in the cane chairs of their club to read El Debate, to have his shoes shined, and to drink vermouth and seltzer and eat roasted almonds,

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