Notes on For Whom the Bell Tolls Themes

This section contains 1,290 word
(approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page)

Notes on For Whom the Bell Tolls Themes

This section contains 1,290 word
(approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page)
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For Whom the Bell Tolls Topic Tracking: Bravery

Chapter 1

Bravery 1: Though Pablo was once a fearless and merciless fighter, they all know that he has lost much of his bravery, and is very afraid of dying. He says that the horses are strong, but he will be hunted down and killed. Robert Jordan notices his sullen demeanor right away upon meeting him, and is afraid that Pablo's cowardice will lead to betrayal.

Chapter 2

Bravery 2: The guerillas compare Robert Jordan to the other foreigner, Kashkin, who they considered odd, but brave. Kashkin was the demolition expert before Robert Jordan arrived, and he helped blow up the train, which they all consider a great victory.

Chapter 3

Bravery 3: Anselmo has never been in a battle, and he does not trust himself to be brave and not run, so he tells Robert Jordan that his orders must be specific so that he does not end up not knowing what to do, getting scared, and running away.

Chapter 4

Bravery 4: Again, Pablo's men make disparaging comments about his cowardice. He says that it is not cowardly to know what is foolish. Anselmo replies that it is not foolish to know what is cowardly. Even Pablo's woman stands up to him and calls him a coward.

Chapter 9

Bravery 5: Pablo lies awake at night and tells Pilar that he is afraid to die. She is ashamed of his cowardice and has no patience for it, for she is a very brave woman and has lived with bullfighters, and she knows how brave he once was before he became a coward.

Chapter 10

Bravery 6: At the event where Pablo arranges to have the fascists and sympathizers killed, Don Ricardo Montcalvo shows bravery in the face of death, standing up for his beliefs and insulting the republic before he is flailed to death. His bravery and pride arouse the already extreme rage and hysteria of the mob.

Chapter 14

Bravery 7: Pilar talks of how the bullfighter Finito was not afraid of death, and compares him to Pablo. Despite his bravery as a bullfighter, outside of the bullring, Finito was a petrified coward.

Chapter 15

Bravery 8: On the way back from Anselmo's guard post to the camp, Anselmo and Robert Jordan make fun of Pablo's cowardice, calling the cave the Cave of Lost Eggs, a reference to how they think Pablo has "lost his balls." Anselmo has known Pablo a long time, but disparages him and continually calls him a coward and a fool.

Chapter 21

Bravery 9: They notice how being on the big grey horse all of a sudden makes Pablo seemed more dignified and brave. Robert Jordan tells Pablo that the danger makes him feel brave.

Chapter 22

Bravery 10: Robert Jordan is focused and brave, instructing them exactly what to do and how to use the gun. He does not let his fear interfere with his work. He also does not let his nervousness show when he is around the others, especially Maria, though he is often conflicted and scared inside.

Chapter 23

Bravery 11: Agustín has much bravado, and talks a lot about how much he wants to have killed the four cavalry, but Robert Jordan knows Agustin felt fear because he felt his muscles twitch while they were hiding.

Chapter 24

Bravery 12: Although Agustín has condemned Pablo as a traitor, he knows that he has the ability to be brave and survive in times of great necessity, for he has worked with him for a long time, even before Pablo lost his bravery and began to fear death.

Chapter 27

Bravery 13: El Sordo has been shot and has retreated to the hill with his men and knows he is dying. However, he shows great dignity and bravery in his death. "[El Sordo] was not at all afraid of dying but he was angry at being on this hill which was only utilizable as a place to die... Dying was nothing and he had no picture of it or fear of it in his mind." Chapter 27, pg. 312

Chapter 28

Bravery 14: Anselmo again hopes that Robert Jordan's instructions before the battle will be exact, so he will not feel confused and get the urge to run away from the battle.

Chapter 29

Bravery 15: On their way to the attack, Pablo tells Robert Jordan that he is confident in the plan and admires his bravery. Robert Jordan wishes he were confident in the plan too.

Chapter 30

Bravery 16: Robert Jordan epitomizes Grandfather, who fought in the American Civil War, as the ultimate in bravery and wisdom. He wishes he had his advice, and knows he could have learned more from him. He sees himself as having inherited more of his bravery from Grandfather than from his father, who shot himself, and whom he thinks is a coward.

Chapter 31

Bravery 17: Maria tells Robert Jordan about the day that her town was taken and her parents were shot. She wishes the Falangists had shot her too, so that she could have shouted as bravely as her father and mother did before they were shot. Her father shouted long live the Republic, her mother shouted long live the Republic and my husband the mayor, and Maria wanted to shout long live the Republic and my parents. Instead, they shaved her head and raped her. She wishes she could have shouted bravely instead of being shamed by the men who raped her. She tells the story to Robert Jordan with much bravery and confidence, and he is filled with hatred for her rapists.

Chapter 34

Bravery 18: Andrés is relieved when he is sent to deliver the dispatch from Robert Jordan to Golz, and compares it to when it rained and he could not do the bullbaiting, in which he hung on for dear life to a bull. It is not that he would have been a coward in battle, but he feels relieved that outside forces have exempted him from fighting for the time being. Still, though he is relieved, he retains his loyalty to his comrades and brother and knows he must return to help them in battle if he can.

Chapter 36

Bravery 19: Andrés keeps his cool in the face of danger, as the guards threaten to bomb him. He does not panic and thinks very quickly on his feet, and when he recognizes the anarchists, he tells them he is one too, so that they will welcome him. He knows the importance of his mission to deliver the dispatch from Robert Jordan to Golz confirming the orders, and persists despite the danger.

Chapter 38

Bravery 20: They are all shocked that Pablo returns to the camp after sneaking away and stealing the dynamite and detonator. Pilar tells Pablo that when a man has bravery, it will never leave him permanently, but that his was indeed a long way gone.

Chapter 41

Bravery 21: Anselmo has expressed before to Robert Jordan that Robert Jordan's instructions before the battle must be exact, so he will not feel confused and get the urge to run away from the battle. When Robert Jordan tells him what to do, he makes it an order, and knows to make his orders exact, so that Anselmo will not be confused and get the urge to run.

Chapter 43

Bravery 22: Robert Jordan is brave and calm up until the bridge blows; he then feels angry and alone. Anselmo follows orders and shoots the sentry, but tears run down his face when he tells Robert Jordan that he killed the man.

Bravery 23: Robert Jordan tries to escape with the others, but his horse gets shot and falls on his leg. He shows no fear when he tells them they must leave him behind. He knows that to continue would slow them down and he sacrifices his own life so that they can continue safely.

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