Electronic Journal #3 For Whom the Bell Tolls

Beginning in Chapter 30, Jordan struggles with the conflict of following orders versus believing the orders of useless. Billy Pilgrim has this struggle too by not conforming to everyday lifestyles and imagining his life on Tramalfadore. Phineas and Gene have this struggle at the Devon school as teenagers. In the end, the bridge operation still remains in operation on the account that it has future success. As Jordan and Maria lie together, Maria tells the story of her capture and the brutal beatings of her parents. Jordan concludes that atrocities have been made on both sides. This is said in Slaughterhouse-Five too that there is no “good guy” in the sense of war. Also, Pablo steals some of the dynamite from the bridge operation and is nowhere to be seen. Furious, Jordan has to put it off to focus on the bridge offensive. This relates to Gene because he is extremely jealous of Phineas. So, in doing so, makes Phineas feel bad for himself and break his leg. As the days grow closer to the operation, Jordan reminisces on the people he has met and feels as though they are family. This coincides with all three main characters: Phineas, Gene, and Billy because they all make new friends in which they build relationships with. Pablo returns and feels guilty for his near desertion. This is somewhat comparable to Billy because mentally, he is not fully engaged in war and is actually bringing other soldiers around him down. War is all psychological, one must believe. Pilar is ordered to watch over the horses while the guerilla offensive is being held which relates to Billy when he uses the horses after the bombing of Dresden. Later, Jordan thinks that all allies, like he and Pablo, hate each other deep down. This is a perfect representation of Phineas and Gene because Gene is jealous of Phineas’ athletic talent and Phineas is jealous of Gene’s smarts. Then, Jordan has a “time travel” while saying good bye to Maria which is the struggle Billy has in his war experience. The bombing of the bridge is executed and the only main people left after it includes Pablo, Jordan, Maria, and Pilar. On their way out of the war, a bullet kills Jordan’s horse which falls on Jordan’s leg, breaking it. Jordan must stay behind and tells Pablo to take good care of Maria. As Jordan lies, nearly dead, he awaits Berrendo, the Fascist Lieutenant and takes aim. After this last part of the novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls was a nice conclusion to my reading lens of war.