For Whom the Bell Tolls

The rapidity of wartime love and connection is a recurring motif throughout the novel. The major relationship illustrating this is that of Robert and Maria; despite Robert’s insistence to Golz that “[he has] [e]nough to think about without girls” (18), he is taken with Maria immediately and puts up only minor resistance to the idea that she could be his woman rather than a one-night stand. By the end of the novel, two days and three nights later, he considers her his wife.

Maria, however, is not the only person with whom Robert experiences a rapid deepening of affection and sharing of truths. Agustín speaks candidly with Robert about Maria, challenging his feelings for her and taking on the role of protector by demanding, “And you will be careful of her now if I trust you? I speak to you as though I knew you for a long time” (34). Robert’s response summarizes the way connections can work in wartime, with people of like minds: “‘It is like that,’ Robert Jordan said, ‘when people understand one another’” (34). He also explains to Agustín that in regard to his relationship with Maria, “It is because of the lack of time that there has been informality. What we do not have is time. Tomorrow we must fight. To me that is nothing. But for the Maria and me it means that we must live all of our life in this time” (214).

Pilar and Robert understand one another quickly, as well, and Pilar immediately trusts Robert with Maria’s care. Anselmo also becomes dear to Robert, and the man’s death deeply affects him. Despite his year-long emotional distance from the people he worked with, Robert understands, in his final days, how the death and danger of war can speed up the natural development of relationships.