The Old Man at the Bridge by Ernest Hemingway
Characters:
An old man – Central character, steel, wears
spectacles, 76 years old, dusty clothes
The narrator – is a soldier for the
Republican (left-wing) side in the Spanish Civil War, in the story he
determines the extent of the enemy's advance.
Setting – During the Spanish Civil War,
over the Ebro River on Easter Sunday in 1938.
Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) – war between
leftist (Republican) and rightist (Nationalists)
Easter Sunday: the day of rebirth of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion.
(left-wing) -Emphasis on ideas such as
freedom, equality, fraternity, rights, progress, reform, and internationalism.
Theme: War never brings good, It not
only destroys the lives of the soldiers in the battlefield but all living
beings. Innocent people have to leave their homes where they had been living
since their grandparents' time. Due to unexpected bomb falls, they lose their lives.
The Old Man at the Bridge is written by
Earnest Hemingway. He is considered as one of the great American 20th-century century novelists. He won the Nobel Prize in 1954.
It was Easter Sunday during the Spanish
Civil War. There was a war between leftists and rightists. The story tells of
Devastating effects and the misery of the civilians. The narrator was in his
duty. He saw an old man of seventy-six sitting on the bridge. He came from San
Carlos. He had no family. He was the last one to leave the town of San Carlos
because he was taking care of animals. The narrator noticed his black dusty clothes, gray dusty
face and his steel-rimmed spectacles.
The old man had two goats, a cat and
four pairs of pigeons. He was without politics. It means he didn't belong to any
party. He was a common, naïve man unaware of political issues, only concerned
with his own daily life. He walked twelve kilometers therefore he was tired and
couldn't go further.
The narrator advised him to go to a safer
place towards Barcelona, the other side of the river, but he desired to wait for
a while. Actually, the old man was tired and he didn't know anyone in another place,
therefore he reluctant (अनिच्छुक) to go. In addition to it, he was worried for his
animals. However, he was happy for the cat because it could take care of itself.
Now the narrator asked the old man
whether he left the dove cage unlocked. The old man had left the cage unlocked;
therefore, the narrator told him not to worry because they would fly. (The
narrator uttered dove instead of pigeons. It shows his inner desire for peace
as a dove is the symbol of hope and peace) Further, he suggested not to think
about other animals too. He urged the old man to try to walk but he couldn't get up
so again sat down. Moreover still, instead of his life safety, he was thinking
about his animals because they were part of his life and his livelihood.
Fascists were advancing toward the Ebro
but due to bad weather, their planes could not come, therefore the old man was
safe. The narrator went from there.
Summary in short
It was Easter Sunday, and there was a civil
war in Spain between leftists and rightists. All the people were told to move
towards a safer place leaving their village. An old man of 76, who lived in San
Carlos also left his village but he had domestic animals and had to look after
them therefore he could not leave early and became the last one to leave the
village. He arrived on the bridge of the Ebro river and sat there due to tiredness.
He was too worried about his animals.
The narrator was a soldier. He told him to go to Barcelona for his safety. Finding the old man worried about his
animals he asked him if he had left the dove cage unlocked, they would have
flown. So he didn't need to be worried for them and go from there before
enemies attack the place. As he was too tired he couldn't stand up properly. The sky was not clear; therefore, enemies planes could not reach there which saved the old man's life. God had shown him mercy on that Easter Sunday.
Please read the real textbook to get the exact and detailed information. The summary may misguide you. Thank you.
An Essay in Aesthetics summary
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