"Old Man at the Bridge" Summary

The narrator is at a bridge, watching refugees flee before the advance of the Fascist army in Italy. An old man has stopped to rest next to the bridge. The narrator directs the man to continue in order to avoid the approaching military force. The old man explains that he has left his home village, where he was retired and was looking after animals. At the age of seventy-six, the man has nowhere to go and no one to turn to, and he has given up on escaping from the army.

"Old Man at the Bridge" Analysis

The old man represents all the innocent casualties of war. He has no involvement in the war and supports neither side. His quiet life is upturned and most likely ended by the military actions of others...