Personal Information
Name : Makwana Bhargav Arvindbhai
Roll No : 01
Batch: M.A Sem 2 (2024-2026)
Enrollment Number : 5108240018
Email : bhargavmakvana221@gmail.com
Assignment Details
Topic : Robert Jordan - Hemingway Hero
Paper & subject Code : 22401 Paper 108: The American Literature
Words :1859
Date of Submission : 17 April 2025
Table of contents
Introduction
Ernest Hemingway
Literary works
Hemingway's Code: Literature and Life
Hemingway Hero's
Characteristics
Believes & Values
Qualities of Hemingway Heroes- Robert Jordan
Comparison
Quotes & Original dialogues
Conclusion
References
Robert Jordan - Hemingway Hero
Abstract
This paper examines the concept of the "Hemingway Hero" through the lens of Ernest Hemingway’s life, philosophy, and literary creations, with a focus on Robert Jordan from For Whom the Bell Tolls. The study begins by exploring Hemingway’s background, emphasizing how his experiences as a war correspondent, hunter, and adventurer influenced the creation of his iconic hero figure. These heroes—often soldiers, athletes, or hunters—live by a personal code defined by courage, loyalty, grace under pressure, and a stoic acceptance of death.
The paper analyzes Hemingway’s literary philosophy, highlighting that this code is not merely fictional but a reflection of Hemingway’s own way of life. Through the character of Robert Jordan, the qualities of the Hemingway Hero—bravery, independence, dignity, and resilience—are explored in depth. Despite knowing his mission may lead to death, Jordan maintains composure and loyalty, making him a prime example of "grace under pressure."
Further comparisons with other Hemingway protagonists—Jake Barnes, Frederic Henry, and Santiago—illustrate how this hero type varies in form but remains rooted in shared values. The study argues that Hemingway’s heroes are defined not by grand ideology but by their behavior in the face of suffering, conflict, and existential uncertainty. Ultimately, the paper concludes that the Hemingway Hero represents a deeply personal response to the absurdities of life, expressed through action, loyalty, and an unwavering code of honor.
1. Introduction
Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, is renowned for his distinctive writing style and the creation of the "Hemingway Hero" or "Code Hero." To define the code to which Hemingway's heroes adhere, it is
important to recognize the manner in which they choose to live. Like Hemingway himself, they are all men of action—soldiers, athletes, hunters. Their choice of action forces them to live by rules of their own making. They know that their choice of action will eventually destroy them, but as long as they concentrate on sticking to the rules, the ineluctable destruction may be shoved back into the recesses of the unconscious Robert Jordan, the protagonist of For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), is one of the most iconic examples of the Hemingway Hero.
2. Ernest Hemingway
Life and Background
Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois. He developed a passion for writing at a young age and began his career as a journalist. Hemingway’s experiences as an ambulance driver during World War I and as a war correspondent during the Spanish Civil War and World War II profoundly influenced his writing. His works often reflect themes of war, love, loss, and the human struggle for meaning.
Literary Career and Major Works
Hemingway’s literary career began with the publication of The Sun Also Rises (1926), which established him as a leading voice of the "Lost Generation." His other major works include A Farewell to Arms (1929), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), and The Old Man and the Sea (1952). Hemingway’s writing is characterized by its simplicity, clarity, and emotional depth, earning him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
3. HEMINGWAY'S CODE: LITERATURE AND LIFE
The code to Ernest Hemingway was more than just a contrived philosophy created for his fictional heroes. Like his heroes, Hemingway had been actively engaged in war, he had hunted big game in Africa and had fished in deep seas, and he had been an aficionado of the ball-game as well as the bull-fight. And like his heroes, Heming
Way's participation in the life-game was regulated by his code. "I did not mind killing anything, any animal," he wrote of his hunting expedition in Green Hills of Africa, "if I killed it cleanly."
Hemingway code one must have an inordinate amount of courage. For at the very core of the code is the demand that the hero face defeat and even death, if necessary, with grace and knowledge.
For Instance Robert Jordan's destruction is inevitable, but he is not defeated when he answers the question, "I think it would be all right to do it now? Don't you?" with "No, it isn't. Because there is still something you can do. As long as you know what it is you have to do it. As long as you remember what it is you have to wait for that. Come on. Let them come. Let them come. Let them come"
4. Hemingway Heroes
Characteristics
For Hemingway's heroes Death is the end of all things, it then becomes the duty and the obligation of the Hemingway hero to avoid death at almost all cost. Life must continue. Life is valuable and enjoyable. Life is everything. Death is nothing. With this view in mind it might seem strange then to the casual or superficial reader that the Hemingway code hero will often be placed in an encounter with death, or that the Hemingway hero will choose often to confront death. The bullfighters, the wild game hunters — characters like these are in constant confrontation with death. From this we derive then the idea of grace under pressure.
Courageous: They face danger and adversity with bravery.
Dignified: They maintain their composure and integrity in difficult situations.
Self-reliant: They rely on their own strength and judgment.
Disillusioned: They are often disillusioned by the world but continue to strive for meaning.
Beliefs and Values
Hemingway Heroes are guided by a personal code of honor that emphasizes:
Grace under pressure: The ability to remain calm and composed in the face of adversity.
Loyalty: Commitment to their principles and to those they care about.
Resilience: The capacity to endure suffering and continue fighting.
Authenticity: A commitment to living authentically and true to oneself.
5. Qualities of Hemingway Heroes: Robert Jordan
Courage and Bravery
Robert Jordan, an American volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, exemplifies courage and bravery. He undertakes the dangerous mission of blowing up a bridge behind enemy lines, knowing the risks involved. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the cause reflects his commitment to his ideals.The Hemingway hero feels that if he is not accepted in one group he makes no intentions to join that group. in For Whom the Bell Tolls because Robert Jordan does feel a sense of loyalty to the Spanish land. He enters
the war partly for this reason. But his most intense feelings of loyalty are for a small guerilla band with whom he works behind the lines in Spain.
Dignity and Grace Under Pressure
Throughout the novel, Jordan maintains his dignity and composure, even in the face of death. His ability to remain calm and focused under pressure is a hallmark of the Hemingway Hero.
Self-reliance and Independence
Jordan is a self-reliant and independent character who relies on his own judgment and skills. He takes responsibility for his actions and decisions, demonstrating his strength and resilience.
Disillusionment and Idealism
Despite his disillusionment with the war and its complexities, Jordan remains committed to his mission and ideals. His struggle to reconcile his idealism with the harsh realities of war reflects the inner conflict of the Hemingway Hero.
6. Comparison with Other Hemingway Heroes
Jake Barnes (The Sun Also Rises)
Jake Barnes, the protagonist of The Sun Also Rises, shares many qualities with Robert Jordan, including courage and resilience. However, Jake’s physical and emotional wounds from World War I make him more passive and resigned, whereas Jordan is more active and determined.
In The Sun Also Rises, Jake Barnes cannot understand why people like Robert Cohn keep hanging around where they are not wanted. Jake Barnes knows that there are enough people in the world who think like him, who like him, so that he has no intention of associating with people of another nature.
This attitude leads to the concept of the loyalty that a Hemingway hero feels for other people. He feels an intense loyalty for a small group of people. Like Robert Jordan fell for the gorilla group in For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Frederic Henry (A Farewell to Arms)
Frederic Henry, the protagonist of A Farewell to Arms, is another example of the Hemingway Hero. Like Jordan, he is disillusioned by war and seeks meaning in love and personal relationships. However, Frederic’s story ends in tragedy, highlighting the futility of war and the fragility of human connections.
Santiago (The Old Man and the Sea)
Ernest Hemingway's renowned novel, "The Old Man and the Sea," delves into the profound depths of the human spirit, exploring themes of determination, resilience, and the quest for meaning in an indifferent world. At the heart of the narrative lies the protagonist, Santiago, whose journey is a powerful allegory for the existential struggles of man’s life. Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, Santiago emerges as a beacon of hope and perseverance. His unwavering courage and enduring patience propel him on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Through Santiago's relentless battle with the marlin and the unforgiving elements of the sea, Hemingway crafts a compelling allegory for the broader human experience.
Santiago's struggle against the forces of nature mirrors humanity's eternal quest for purpose and significance in a world that often appears indifferent and absurd. Despite the odds against him, Santiago embodies heroism, stoicism, and humanism. His unwavering resolve in the face of adversity is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through Santiago's triumphs and tribulations, Hemingway offers profound insights into the human condition and the quest for meaning.
7. Quotes and Original Dialogues
Quote 1: Robert Jordan on Courage
"There is nothing else than now. There is neither yesterday, certainly, nor is there any tomorrow. How few things there are one can be certain of."
This quote reflects Jordan’s focus on the present moment and his acceptance of the uncertainty of life. It highlights his courage and determination to face whatever comes his way.
Quote 2: Robert Jordan on Love and Sacrifice
"I have fought for what I believed in for a year now. If we win here, we will win everywhere."
This quote demonstrates Jordan’s commitment to his ideals and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the cause. It reflects his belief in the importance of fighting for what is right, even at great personal cost.
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, the Hemingway hero is a man whose concepts are shaped by his view of death, that in the face of death a man must perform certain acts and these acts often involve enjoying or taking the most he can from life. The Hemingway man will not talk about his concepts. Thus to formulate them as we have done here is a violation of the concept. He is a man of intense loyalty to a small group because he cannot accept abstract things. He must need the definite, the concrete. He does not talk too much. He expresses himself not in words but in actions. Consequently, most of Hemingway's novels are based upon action. The Hemingway hero then is not a thinker; he is a man of action. But his acts are based upon a concept of life.
9. References
Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls. New York: Scribner, 1940.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Scribner, 1926.
Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Scribner, 1929.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952.
Motola, Gabriel. “HEMINGWAY’S CODE: LITERATURE AND LIFE.” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 10, no. 4, 1964, pp. 319–29. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26278764. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Shamim, Rashda, et al. “Character Analysis of Robert Jordan and Santiago: The Sublime Parables of the Unconquerable Human Spirit Against the Heavy Odds.” Journal of Humanities, Music and Dance, vol. 4, no. 5, 2024, pp. 1–10. ResearchGate, www.researchgate.net/publication/383010515_Character_Analysis_of_Robert_Jordan_and_Santiago_The_Sublime_Parables_of_the_Unconquerable_Human_Spirit_against_the_Heavy_Odds.
Manea, Camelia Maria. “Teaching Hemingway. the Typical and the ‘Atypical’ Hero; Heroism and Heroes.” ResearchGate, www.researchgate.net/publication/321824979_Teaching_Hemingway_The_Typical_and_the_’Atypical’_Hero_Heroism_and_Heroes. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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