P-108 Assignment Analyze the topic of the Symbols in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell tolls, the bridge as the symbol of rebellion and war.

 P-108 Assignment

Analyze the topic of the Symbols in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell tolls, the bridge as the symbol of rebellion and war.

Name-Kishan Jadav

Paper-8 :Paper 8: The American Literature

Roll no-10

Enrollment no-3069206420200008

Email id- jadavkishan55555@gmail.com

Batch-2020-22 (MA Sem-2)

Submitted to- S. B. Gardi Department of English,

                Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Introduction :

 Symbols are words that suggest much more than they mean on the surface and are necessary to help us express some ideas. Then, a symbol is a word or phrase or image that stands for large ideas. Not only are we capable of forming concepts for which there are no physical object to point to, but it is also possible for us to have moods, feeling for which we do not even have practice words. That is where symbols come in. Therefore, it is very interesting to analyze the topic of the Symbols in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell tolls, the bridge as the symbol of rebellion and war.

This thesis wants to discuss the bridge as connector, the bridge as the symbol of rebellion and war, the bridge as the symbol of power.The results of the discussions show  to describe the symbol of the bridge.The analysis of this thesis proves that everything is neutral. However, every person has different meaning of a symbol. Some people think that a thing is not important for them but others think that it is very important for their life. For the Fascist, the bridge has an important thing and as the symbol of power, while for the Republican, bridge is the symbol of rebellion and as an important thing for their future.

 1] The bridge as connector :

"Bridges symbolize change and flexibility!

They show us this simple philosophy:

 When you are on one side,

you can easily move to the other side!"

- Mehmet Murat ildan

A bridge serves to connect two different ends.  So it can be said that the bridge serves to connect.  In which one can be connected from one village to another, from one state to another, from one state to another.  They interact with each other.  The bridge is inherently symbolic of communication and union, whether it be between heaven and earth or two distinct realms. For this reason it can be seen as the connection between God and Man. It may be the passage to reality, or merely a symbol for travel and crossing. In dreams, a bridge symbolizes the passage from one state to another, higher one, like an ascension; it is the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. In many cultures it is the link between what can be perceived and what is beyond perception, or at least a change or desire for change. Can be a test to see who is brave. Things are exchanged between countries.  So that one country can deliver good help to another.  In a country where there is no item, it can deliver items. And this bridge is useful in that.  Rivers flowing through bridges can also be easily crossed.  Running rivers can also be easily crossed to get from one place to another. The bridges are also very important in transportation and traveling, especially for trains with many bridges built so that travel can be done easily.

For too long,information, opportunities,

and resources have been constraints,

they need to be the bridges.

- Sharad Vivek Sagar

When we talk about the human mind, a bridge is also built in the human mind. Because the thoughts of human beings exchange ideas with each other and a bridge of those thoughts is built. There is also a bridge in human relationships.  Because everyone is connected to each other.  And every behavioral transaction is like each other and does its.  The bridge is therefore used more as a connector as a symbol in the human mind.

2] The bridge as the symbol of power :

The power of that country can be known from the bridge of that country.  The strength of the country can be known.  Because it costs a lot to build a bridge.  And that cost can only be done by rich countries. On the other hand, the strength of a bridge can be measured by its strength. The stronger the bridge, the greater its strength.  In the same way, the countries that have built strong bridges have more power.  Because they have spent a lot of money to build that bridge.  There are many such world famous bridges.  Such as The Ponte Vecchio (literally “old bridge”) is a Medieval bridge over the Arno River in Florence,The Millau Viaduct is an enormous cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France,Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London,The Charles Bridge is a famous is a stone Gothic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, also known as the Pearl Bridge, is the longest suspension bridge at 1,991 meters (6,532 feet) in the world. It spans the Akashi Strait in Japan,Si-o-se Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) is a famous bridge in the Iranian city of Isfahan.Stari Most (“The Old Bridge”) is a famous bridge crossing the river Neretva in the city of Mostar.Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s most well known and photographed landmarks, so many others world famous bridges.

The Golden Gate Bridge came to be recognized as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States, and it set a precedent for suspension-bridge design around the world. Although other bridges have since surpassed it in size, it remains incomparable in the magnificence of its setting and is said to be the most photographed bridge in the world.

Suspension bridge, bridge with overhead cables supporting its roadway. Modern suspension bridges are light and aesthetically pleasing and can span longer distances than any other bridge form. They are also among the most expensive bridges to construct.

3] The bridge as the symbol of rebellion and war :

" Once upon a time there were two countries,

at war with each other. In order to make peace after many years of conflict,

they decided to build a bridge across the ocean.

But because they never learned each other’s language properly,

they could never agree on the details, so the two halves of the bridge

they started to build never met.

To this day the bridge extends far into the ocean from both sides,

 and simply ends half way, miles in the wrong direction from the meeting point.

And the two countries are still at war."

-Vera Nazarian

The bridge is also known as a symbol of rebellion.  Because many battles have been fought through the bridge and many soldiers have come from outside and fought for the battle through the bridge, which we see in history.  There have also been terrorist attacks on many of the world's bridges.  Since bridges are used to move from one country to another, whenever a country has to go to war, people use this bridge to sound.  So the bridge can be identified as a rebellious symbol, which led to many wars and for which many wars took place. Here I would like to give a few examples to make this topic more relevant.

i) Myth story of Ramayana :

Rama and Ravana also fought in Ramayana.  The reason was that Ravana had abducted Sita and taken her to Lanka with him.  When Rama and his monkey army reach the shore in search of him, they realize that Lanka is crossing the sea. So they build a pool under the sea to cross it and fight Ravana.  According to the myth, In the story, when Rama’s army reaches the ocean across which lies the island of Sri Lanka, the apes construct a floating bridge across the sea by writing the name of Rama on the stones and tossing them into the water. According to the legend, the stones didn’t sink because they had Rama's name written on them. If you look at satellite photos of this region today, you will notice a faint hint of a connecting strip between the two countries. This so called Rama's Bridge or Rama Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a long, twisting stretch of shoal and sandbank connecting the Indian island of Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, to Mannar Island, off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is about 50 km long. But our topic is that they built a bridge to fight and they crossed that bridge and climbed over Lanka.  So in this myth of Ramayana we can see the bridge as a rebellion.  Building that bridge leads to a terrible war.

ii) Tango Charlie movie :

Tango Charlie is a 2005 Indian Hindi war film, The film presents the idea that true soldiers are not born but bred.In the movie, “Tango Charlie” is the code name given to the BSF jawan, Tarun Chauhan (Bobby Deol), the protagonist whose mission is fighting the supposed enemies of the nation at war fronts across the country’s landscape. There is also a scene of this bridge in the movie.  And with the intention of attacking they infiltrate over the bridge.  Attacks the soldiers on the bridge.  So even in this movie the bridge is portrayed as a rebellion.

iii) For Whom the Bell Tolls :

If we win here we will win everywhere.

The world is a fine place and

worth the fighting for and

I hate very much to leave it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel written by Ernest Hemingway. It was published in 1940.  As an expert in the use of bombs, he is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia.The novel graphically describes the brutality of the Spanish Civil War. It is told primarily through the thoughts and experiences of the protagonist, Robert Jordan. It draws on Hemingway's own experiences in the Spanish Civil War as a reporter for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Looking at the above, in the same way we see the revolt through this novel but the revolt is done by a bridge.  It is infiltrated from the bridge. In this novel Pablo and Pilar’s relationship—though also developed during war—does not prove strengthening or encouraging for either of the fighters. Unlike Maria with Robert Jordan, Pilar cannot control Pablo, soothe his hopelessness, or embolden him. From the beginning, Pilar and Pablo’s relationship is strained by their differing views on the value of destroying a bridge in the mountains outside of Madrid, where the guerillas have been fighting, to cut off access to the area for the Francoist fascist forces. When Pilar announces that she is “for the Republic,” and thus supports Jordan’s plan to detonate the bridge, Pablo calls her foolhardy, with a “head of a seed bull and a heart of a whore”: this debate continues to strain their relationship and makes the guerillas lose faith in Pablo as a leader as he becomes increasingly erratic and fearful. So even in this novel there is a revolt to blow up the bridge.  Attacks are made on each other to create an atmosphere of war.

Conclusion :

In the symbol of a bridge we find many different meanings.  We can represent it differently.  Such as the bridge as a conecter to the bridge as a power and the bridge as a rebellion.  But based on the events that have taken place in history, the wars that have taken place in modern times, the web series and films that are taking place in the present times and The world famous myth story Ramayana was also fought by a bridge.  Many wars have been fought by bridges in different countries.  Bridges have been infiltrated in many places.  Many bridges are blown up by bombs.  Many films have such a theme.  And a lot of literature depicts rebellion and war by bridges.  So it can be said that the bridge is a symbol of rebellion and war.

Work cited :

Bridges Quotes (94 quotes). (2019). Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/bridges.

Course Hero. "For Whom the Bell Tolls Study Guide." Course Hero. 29 Sep. 2016. Web. 14 June 2021. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/For-Whom-the-Bell-Tolls/>.

Patowary, K. (2017, November 5). Rama’s Bridge: A Bridge Built By Monkeys. Amusing Planet. https://www.amusingplanet.com/2017/06/ramas-bridge-bridge-built-by-monkeys.html?m=1

The Hindu : Entertainment Chennai / Film Review : “Tango Charlie.” (2005, April 1). The Hindu. Com. https://web.archive.org/web/20050406102025/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/01/stories/2005040102180200.htmPatowary, K. (2017, June 6). Kennisgeving voor omleiding. Rama’s Bridge A Bridge Built by Monkey. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t