o in Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls, is a vivid example of a character who exhibits this grace under pressure. # The novel is set in the mountains of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Robert Jordan is an American volunteering for the Spanish Loyalist forces. He is a dynamiter and has been assigned to blow up a bridge that is nestled away in the mountains of Spain. The bridge must be blown during a massive attack, at just the right time. This ultimately doomed Jordan’s chances of escape along with fascist knowledge of the attack. In order to blow up the bridge, Jordan would need help. Three days before the attack, an old man, Anselmo, led Jordan to a band of guerillas in the mountains. They were headed by Pablo. Trouble arose between Pablo and Robert throughout his stay at the guerilla camp. At Pablo’s camp Jordan met Pilar, a forceful woman, Maria, the woman whom he would love, and others. Jordan also encountered El Sordo, who ran a similar camp and was also going to help with the attack. El Sordo was eliminated by the fascists before the attack. The blowing up of the bridge was carried out despite few people able to assist Jordan. Jordan was able to blow up the bridge as planned but was unable to escape. As Jordan rode a horse, attempting to escape, a shell struck the horse. The horse crushed Jordan’s leg and the wound would cause his death. Throughout the text, Robert Jordan illustrates amazing characteristics typical of a code hero. Robert Jordan resists random impulses under extreme pressure at many points throughout For Whom The Bell Tolls. A particular instance is when Jordan avoids confrontation with Pablo despite being provoked. The two had heated confrontations while in the camp three times throughout the novel. Pablo had insulted and denounced Jordan to the point where others thought it would be proper to kill him. In fact, his wife, Pilar said, “Kill him. I am for it now.” (217) Mome...
