Modernist Ideas at play in the novel
In the beginning of the 20th century modernist literature emerged to tackle some of the immense changes in society and to describe some of the wars in the beginning of the century. As the name suggests modernists aim to question older values and surprise people with realism and new narrative techniques. One of the most successful writers of this era is the American journalist and writer, Ernest Hemingway, who was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in literature for his writing in 1954. In 1937 he ventured to Spain to report on the raging civil war and wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls, four years later, based on what he experienced during the war. This celebrated novel is an excellent example of modernist ideas and Hemingway makes good use of new narrative techniques while challenging old traditions and questioning authority through the main character, Robert Jordan, to illustrate his growing disbelief in war.
First and foremost, the novel demonstrates use of new narrative techniques while telling the story of Robert Jordan, a foreigner trapped in the midst of a raging civil war. His mission is to assist a Republican offensive by blowing up a Fascist bridge. The modern structure of the novel is shown by Jordan’s way of interacting with the guerrillas he his hiding amongst. The characters all tell their own story and the point of view constantly shifts and the novel almost becomes like a collection of stories. These characters all contribute to Jordan’s self-perception thanks to their accurate and unpolished descriptions of their tragedies – as when it is revealed to him that one of the women, Maria, was deprived of her virginity by Fascist soldiers. This is an attempt to remove the surreal perception of warfare after World War I so that people realize what war is really about.
Furthermore, as the story progresses it is obvious that Hemingway does not only use new narrative techniques but he is also questioning old traditions and values. While Robert Jordan and his guerrilla crew plan the attack on the bridge they have to stay hidden from the enemy air force. In several passages from the novel Hemingway describes how the planes are “hammering the sky apart”. While the Fascists terrorise the guerrilla group psychologically with air planes Jordan and his group care for their horses and this is Hemingway’s technique to clarify the relationship between old and new. The guerrillas do not have the resources to keep up with the Fascists and this would evidentially be their downfall. They have not given up the traditional method of warfare and as once the planes are introduced the rebels realize their inferiority. Hemingway questions previous stories of heroism from war and his distaste in modern warfare is radiated in the novel through this imagery.
Additionally, the distaste shines through as Jordan starts questioning his mission and its purpose. Having heard a Fascist airstrike annihilate a nearby camp and hearing stories about atrocities he starts doubting his mission and the war itself. He came to Spain to support the Republican cause and fight against the Fascists but as the war rages on he becomes sceptical and loses his initial idealism and optimism. Jordan suffers from an internal conflict and questions the difference between the Fascist and Republican side. Hemingway is hinting that the idea of right and wrong side is only subjective and that it is never black and white. There is no winner in war because everyone involved lose their innocence.
In conclusion, modernist ideas has shaped the perception of war and old values during the 20th century and has contributed to a greater understanding of our present society but it has also resulted in many profound pieces of literature. Thanks to new narrative techniques which include several perspectives and the imagery with planes and horses to illustrate modern warfare’s dreadful nature as well as Jordan’s inner conflict Hemingway has created a brilliant and thoughtful novel displaying his disbelief in modern warfare.
/Fredrik Arve
Through a Modernist Eye
An essay based on For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
One of the most well-known modernist authors is Ernest Hemingway, an author who has been given the Nobel Prize in Literature for his outstanding novels and literary works. Modernist literature has two main characteristics and those are the growing sense of doubt and its way of rejecting old traditions. One of the purposes of a modernist literature is to shock and create questions on the older norms, values and forms in the society. In Hemingway’s novel For Whom the Bell Tolls the characteristics of a modernist literature can be recognized. The amazing story which takes place under the Spanish Civil War is about an American volunteer named Robert Jordan who is sent as a demolition expert to a guerilla band. His task is to destroy a vital bridge to support the Republic offensive on Franco´s fascist rebels. The impression of Robert Jordan in the beginning of the novel is a man who has devoted his life for the Republic, and is willing to risk his life for its cause. He is seen as the prefect soldier. Under his visit with the guerilla band he comes in contact with individuals who have all been affected by the war and during his stay he starts questioning himself if there really is a difference between the Republic and the Fascist sides. In Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, characteristics of modernism can be recognized through Robert Jordan’s change of view regarding the war, in Hemingway’s narrative techniques, with different characters telling their own story, and also in Hemingway’s style of writing which creates a feeling of realism, an important part in modernist literature.
Robert Jordan who was described as the perfect soldier in the beginning of the novel developed to be a man in doubt in the end of it. The man who had nothing to live for except the war defined him as a perfect solider, but during his stay with the guerilla group Robert Jordan starts to become doubtful about his mission and authority. With the internal conflicts in the novel the reader understands that doubt is growing in Robert Jordan’s mind. His beliefs that the Republic cause is the right one has been damaged by the actions of war and reality, and he finds himself wondering if there really is a difference between the two sides. Still with his doubt to the Republic cause he continues to fight for it and in the end of the novel he even gives his life for the Republic.
Hemingway uses a narrative technique which can be seen as a modernist trait, it is not like the traditional technique. The use of multiple perspectives from the different characters in the novel makes the reader much more integrated in the war and its effects. The novels plot is mainly built upon Robert Jordan’s own experiences and feelings, but these are affected by the different characters own stories which are told in the novel. This narrative technique uses multiple points of views when it comes to the telling of the novel and because of this, the reader becomes involved in all kinds of different perspectives. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of the war and how different people experienced it.
The novel is well written when looking through a modernist eye. The use of language in For Whom the Bell Tolls creates a feeling of realism. Instead of using an over descriptive style when writing, Hemingway writes with a more “get to the point” style. Hemingway focuses on the characters thoughts and mind, not describing appearances, making the reader create its own personal pictures. The sentences in the novel can be seen as short and abrupt, they have just enough information to be able to create a mental picture. With this style of writing Hemingway creates a work of realism, which is important in a modernist literature.
In For Whom the Bell Tolls written by Ernest Hemingway characteristics of modernism can be found in the main character Robert Jordan with the growing sense of doubt, in his narrative technique with the use of multiple points of views, and in his style of writing, which gives the reader the feeling of realism. For Whom the Bell Tolls is according to many the finest novel made by Ernest Hemingway and it is said by Anthony Burgees to be the best fictional report on the Spanish Civil War that we possess.
/Harald Ekholm
Ernest Hemingway and Modernism
In 1940, Ernest Hemingway, the famous American author who had a major impact on the literature of the 20th century, published the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls (FWTBT). It gives the story of an American volunteer fighting in the Spanish civil war. While reading the novel, it becomes clear that Hemingway in several ways was influenced by modernist thoughts. For example the story contains much uncertainty and ambivalence. Furthermore there are also signs of mistrust of authority. Hemingway also introduces new storytelling techniques such as multiple points of views and a non-chronological storyline. Based on the modernist features in For Whom the Bell Tolls, it is clear that Hemingway in several ways can be considered a modernist writer.
Modernist thoughts are often characterized by uncertainty and ambivalence. This is clear in FWTBT. The novel both glorifies and criticizes war in a way that makes the reader uncertain whether Hemingway was positive or negative towards the Spanish Civil War. For example, it is clear that the main character Robert Jordan sees the war as something important; something that has a greater cause. It is described as a war to preserve the Spanish Republic; to preserve Spain as it was. On the other hand, it is also described as something horrible and a specific example is when a guerilla leader tells Jordan how they executed all the fascists in their hometown. Childhood friends were killed and the part of the story speaks against the war, rather than for it. In general, the way Hemingway writes clearly indicates that he has large influences from modernist thoughts; for example shown by the ambivalence and uncertainty.
Another modernist feature is the mistrust of authority. In FWTBT there is an extremely clear example of how this occurs. In the beginning of the story, Robert Jordan is probably the last person who would disobey orders. As mentioned earlier, he feels that he is fighting for a greater cause and that there is no question that the generals are doing the right thing, no matter what orders they are giving. However, the further the story passes, the more the reader receive a feeling that Jordan begins to question his mission. From having been completely certain that blowing up the bridge would be the right thing to do, he begins realizing that it might not be such a good idea. His relationship with some of the people living in the mountains (especially with Maria) as well as the fact that he has seen larger armies passing than accounted for makes him realize that the attack will fail. He tries to stop it without success and continues with his mission blowing up the bridge. It is clear that the mistrust of authority was valid in the story since the orders led directly to the death of Robert Jordan while the larger offensive failed as well.
A last thing that indicates that Hemingway’s writing has influences from modernism is the fact that he used new storytelling techniques. For example the story is not entirely told in chronological order but also with several flashbacks from the past. Furthermore, the story is told from multiple points of views. Even though Robert Jordan is the main character and most of the story is told from his perspective, there are numerous other persons telling other parts of the story from their perspectives as well. Combining these two factors shows that there are modernist features in Hemingway’s literature.
It is clear that Hemingway was inspired by modernist thoughts when writing the novel. Features such as uncertainty, mistrust of authority and new storytelling techniques give the impression that he is a modernist. To be able to say with certainty that this is the case, one would need to read several others of his books. Based on the reading of FWTBT one can clearly argue that Hemingway, at least when writing that novel, was inspired by modernist thoughts.
/Adam Orre
For Whom the Bell Tolls Zine 