Existentialism by Ernest Hemingway
Existentialism is human’s
free choice of life with complete responsibility
of deeds. Individual is independent and honest to himself as well as to
humanity. He does adventure about what he wants to do. Ernest Hemingway
represents existentialism through various characters in his novels.Essence of Ernest Hemingway’s novels is that man is to realize his
purpose of life in world which is disordered. He believes that life should be
lived fully and heroically. It is not necessary other people agree with him as they
can be against of him even sometimes nature is working against as in old man and the sea, for whom the bell
tolls and in other novels.
Robart Jordan in “for whom the
bell tolls” takes responsibility to blow the bridge with his free will and not
imposed by anyone. It is
solely his own choice to be a part of that mission, more challenging than his teaching
profession. Being honest to his duty and he does not retreat in critical
situation but gives his life for the sake of humanity. Peter Messent describes,
“Robert Jordan has freely chosen to place in this situation and is acting not
for himself but with larger ends in mind for the future of human race.”While
Nathan Brian argues, “Main theme for
whom the bell tolls is existentialist and developed from Robert Jordan's
search for meaning in life.”
Robert Jordan’s early idealism is shaken and
sometimes lost in the face of reality. He experiences new things during his mission
to blow bridge as open nature on mountain and making love. He observes conspiracy
and hypocrisy can be done by companions besides enemies. Despite of all bitter
experiences he does not lose focus on his duty and responsibilty.
Jazzaloha
finds existentialism also in El Sordo’s character ,“El Sordo’s end is very spiritual —a death
that fulfils a life spent working on lofty goals. There is a lot of life in
this novel about death. In the novel’s final moments a kind of peace being
reached at the end that speaks to spirituality. It is to acceptance of death as
it is; whatever it is. It is a natural part of our existence.”
El Sordo is glad that
is loyal to the Republic as he prefers the welfare of Republic.
Philosopher Marcus Aurelius
explains same as one must “Wipe out imagination, check impulse, quench desire,
keep the governing self in its own control.” He clarifies that head is where
truth and freedom reside. Many people endure unimaginable conditions in
concentration and attain mental freedom that cannot be taken away by force.Both
Hemingway and Marcus Aurelius have similar veneration for nature and outdoor life.
This intense love of all things, naturally, kneads their thinking and helps to
shape them as moralists, not intellectuals, who believe man should behave
according to natural order, not according to the whims of others or false
doctrines.
Robert Jordan realizes that his
affair with Maria was not just an ordinary experience but one which comes once
in a life time. He lets Maria go with group and not endanger her or group
people for his love. He is as honest to mission as to group. He chooses to blow bridge with free will. He
completes his purpose and ignores several things what comes in his way. He only
focuses on his work and completes it with honor and gives life for the sake of
his purpose. Being a man of action he prefers to face death instead being shooted
cowardly that as distinguished quality of Hemingway’s novels. Most of the characters of novel “to whom the bell tolls” work
for Republicans. They have come here on the mountain with their free choice,
with full responsibility, with complete devotion independently. They honor the
high values with a commitment honestly.
Maria
is working in favor of Republicans and it is her free choice whatever the
reasons behind it. It is also her free choice to make love with Robert. She
makes future plans to spend a life with Robert freely and willingly .She is not
under any pressure upon her. She also opens her past and leaves it upon to his
free choice whether he loves her or not. She tries to comfort him as she feels
her responsibility being a co-worker on the mountain.
One must
choose one path and follow it wholeheartedly. To become honorable and
dignified, a man has to show grace under pressure. These are the values that
will lead to truth and freedom. Hemingway’s search for truth, power of work and
self-discipline provide a coherent organizing theme to him .Hemingway believes
that meaning of living truth can be instilled through discipline.This theme of
understanding through suffering runs strongly through nearly all Hemingway’s
novels, whether framed by war, starvation, harsh outdoor life, or the long
lonely ride to death. Despite against the stone cold facts of life, Hemingway’s
characters are not the typical troubled, introverted types we encounter in many
existential novels.
His heroes do not wallow on misery of
meaninglessness but try to impose meaning upon life. They are always engaged in
something bigger and more important than themselves. Robert Jordan and the
guerrillas blowing up a bridge; Frederic Henry escaping from the war to take
his pregnant girlfriend to safety; Santiago battling with the fish etc .There
is no place for pussy footing or losing one’s nerve in these situations. The
hero must act, and according to values. Hemingway constructs testing situations
for his heroes and those around them. The hero must act with dignity, placing
virtue above personal needs.
Robert Jordan in For
Whom the Bell Tolls resists in order to stay loyal to the cause. In the Old Man and the Sea, the old man talks to fish, birds, sea, and
himself. He knows that all he must do is to keep the head clear because that is
“all he has left” .This is the world infiltrating the fortress of his
consciousness. But Santiago reminds himself “be calm and strong old man”. He
knows he must remain so if he is not to be defeated. According to Hemingway it
is the time for himself to give meaning to the purpose of his life. With fire
in his belly Hemingway worked tirelessly, boldly trying to write a moral
philosophy best to live. .
Freedom of choice,
responsibility, accountability, devoted to oneself and humanity are common
aspects of existentialism as well as of religion though existentialistic don’t
believe in God apparently.
References
1-Nathan Brian Jones,The
Social Development of Protagonists in Hemingway’s Novels . United States
Code: 2009
2-L.A. Rowland, Hemingway and the Hero. Behavioral
Dynamics Institute in London:2014
3-Monteath,Peter
.The Spanish Civil war in Literature, Film and art. Greenwood Press. Westport
,1994
4-Jazzaloha .
The Existentialism of Ernest Hemingway in for whom the bell tolls .
5-Peter
Messent, Ernest Hemingway, Published
1992: The Macmillan Press Ltd: London. (PP.68)
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