Themes In Ernest Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls, a novel written by Ernest Hemingway, is an inspirational piece of literature for many. People seeking a career in public service have and will continue to be inspired by this great work. President Obama has even mentioned it, when asked what pieces of literature inspired him. The book is very inspiring because it contains themes such as determination, respect, and duty. All of the themes mentioned are characteristics and ideas that people looking for a career in public service should possess.
One inspirational characteristic that is shown throughout the course of the novel is determination. From the beginning of the book to the conclusion, Robert Jordan is attempting to successfully execute his mission and blow the bridge. The events that unfold are inspirational because it shows someone looking for a career in public service that even if there are hardships along the way, they will eventually be able to accomplish their goals if they keep trying and work through the problems. Even though people working in public service will most likely not be blowing bridges, there are still many important tasks that they will have to complete on a daily basis. Before blowing the bridge,

Robert Jordan thought to himself, “Today is only one day in all the days there will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that will ever come can depend on what you do today” (page 432). This quote is a great example in showing why the novel is inspirational to people wanting to work in public service. It shows them that although they may have to perform some menial tasks, they should always try their hardest, since what they are doing is always part of a bigger picture. A perfect example of this would be the career of a mailman, although all he does is deliver the mail, he should always be determined to try his hardest to get the mail to the recipient, since he does not know what important information the letter can contain.
For Whom the Bell Tolls is inspirational for someone seeking a profession in public service because it contains many examples of respect. This characteristic is essential for someone seeking a career in public service, since many people in this field have to deal with others. A great example of this would be the president, he must be respectful when meeting with foreign leaders, or he could cause some problem between the United States and another country. In the novel, Robert Jordan has to deal with a brute known simply as Pablo. Even though he does not particularly like Pablo, he is forced to respect him and his decisions if he would like to execute the blowing of the bridge. Although he does become furious when Pablo leaves the camp, he is able to respect him when he returns. This respect is clearly outlined when Ernest Hemingway writes, “I suppose all allies are like this. They always hate each other au fond,” (page 404). This shows the respect that Robert Jordan has for Pablo, since he is referring to him as his ally even though he is not fond of him. This happening is able to inspire people in public service because it shows them that if they try hard enough, they will be able to deal with a tough person who is not particularly likable.
The final reason why the novel is inspirational to people seeking a profession in public service is the fact that it illustrates a sense of duty. Throughout the course of the book, Robert Jordan is attempting to complete the undertaking assigned to him by Golz. He survived many hardships while trying to complete this task, but eventually lost his own life due to his extreme sense of duty. The fact that Robert Jordan gave his own life outlines the sense of duty that some public service workers must possess for their career. Both people involved with the law enforcement and the military may have to lose their lives while serving in the line of duty. The fact that Robert Jordan believes so much in the cause that he would give his own life is inspirational to those that will serve, as they too may lose their lives while completing their duties.
Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is an inspirational story for all types of readers.

However, it is the most inspirational to people seeking a profession in public service, as the novel contains many themes and ideas relating to that area of work. These themes include determination, respect, and duty, which were all traits that Robert Jordan exhibited throughout the course of the work. Due to these characteristics that he possess, the novel is very inspirational for someone looking to work in public office, since Robert Jordan was able to maintain all of the characteristics needed while he was facing an untold amount of difficulties. For these reasons, For Whom the Bell Tolls is a very inspirational story for those who are seeking careers in public

service.