by Brian Post
Still A Hero
In Ernest Hemingway's novel For Whom The Bell Tolls, Hemingway traces Robert Jordan's psychological change from a traditional code hero to a hero of hope. As Robert Jordan becomes more involved in the cause he is fighting for and the people he is helping, he reforms his thoughts toward the hero of hope philosophy. Hemingway reveals Jordan's philosophy change by expressing his original code hero thoughts and actions, his transition stage, and his newly acquired hero of hope philosophy.
Robert Jordan begins the novel as a traditional code hero. Whenever he has a chance he drinks alcohol. Although Jordan drinks often, he fulfills the code hero value of not becoming a sloppy drunk. He drinks only to be manly and social. Jordan always analyzes his liqueur, drinking ". . .it slowly, feeling it spread warmly through his tiredness." Jordan fulfills the code hero aspect of single skill perfection. He is an expert bridge destroyer, and he is confident in this fact. When asked by Maria to explain this skill, Jordan says blowing a bridge is ". . . something easy to do. Robert Jordan is very disciplined, manifesting his determination and steadfastness. Jordan's discipline constantly reminds him that he has". . . only one thing to do and (he) must do it." His mind is always subconsciously linked to his duty. Finally, Jordan never forms attachments. Early in the novel, Jordan states that he has ". . .no time for girls." He is not willing to become attached to anyone for any length of time. These traits reveal Jordan to be a traditional code hero.
When Robert Jordan rethinks his philosophy, he enters his transitional period. Jordan becomes indecisive and constantly contrasts his thoughts through juxtaposition. When asked whether he has faith in the Republic, he responds yes, ". . .hoping that it was true." Jordan doubts himself, contradicting his thoughts almost as quickly as he forms them. He feels that now ". . .he must use these people whom he liked as you should use troops towards whom you have no feeling at all. . . ." Jordan often tries not to think about his orders. He tries to find ". . .something to think about. . .to keep your mind from worrying about your work." He also is undecided about his feelings for Maria. Jordan is convinced he loves her but he cannot allow her to interfere with his orders. Jordan is trapped between emotion and duty, each entailing a different philosophy.
After conquering his indecision during his transitional period, Robert Jordan manifests his change to a hero of hope philosophy. Robert Jordan finishes his transition into a hero of hope by adopting a new philosophy. He shows emotions and forms emotional attachments. When asked about making love to Maria, ". . .Robert Jordan felt his face reddening." Jordan realizes he is in love and cannot help but show this fact physically and emotionally. He also feels that death is avoidable and that ". . .the whole thing had turned for the better and that now it was possible." Jordan now wishes to avoid death, although he will still do his duty. After Jordan transforms into the hero of hope, he admits that ". . .he himself, with another person, could be everything." Jordan cares about the people he is working with instead of using others only as a means to achieve orders. When death is unavoidable, he tells Maria that he will ". . .be with her always." He has faith that his love will transcend his death, and he is hopeful for the afterlife. While Jordan waits for the army to come, he ponders his lifetime in his mind. Jordan realizes that it was the people he helped and the relationships he formed that are important, not only the fulfillment of his orders.
Overall, self-conflicts appear in several main characters in For Whom the Bell Tolls, but nowhere is a deep self-conflict expressed so obviously in a character as in Robert Jordan himself. By transcending from a code hero to a hero of hope, Robert Jordan's attitudes and decisions are altered in accordance to Hemingway's philosophy change. This transition between philosophies by Jordan shows how Ernest Hemingway changes his personal philosophy into a more optimistic view of human conflict and human relationships in spite of the cruelties of war. "However all of it had been and however all of it would ever be now, for him, no longer was there any problem."