Question

how does the old man at the bridge highlight the destruction caused by war

Answer 1

the scene takes place in a typical Warzone with the movement of vehicles and civilians fleeing across the pontoon bridge to protect themselves from the impending Attack by the enemy Troops .
there is a reference to the mule drawn carts and the soldiers helping the people with their carts struggling to get across the pontoon bridge and up the steep bank on the other side of the river .
"the mule drawn carts staggered up the steep Bank from the bridge with soldiers helping push against the spokes of the wheels ".


there is dust all around with the trucks of the army moving away from the place .the peasants have to move with difficulty in the ankle deep dust the main purpose of Hemingway in describing these frantic efforts seems to contrast them with the ability of the old man .
"But the old man ," heroes at the end of the first paragraph of the story "sat there without moving .


he was too tired to go any further ".



Hemingway has captured the true picture of War and its effects without a single shot being fired or a drop of blood being spilt in this story of a nameless old man at the pontoon bridge