how is title old man at the bridge appropriate
Answers
At just two pages in length, "The Old Man at the Bridge" is one of Hemingway's shortest tales. It is based upon an Easter Sunday stopover at the Ebro River during his coverage of the Spanish Civil War in April 1938.
From the book (first Para)
As Hemingway describes the movement of vehicles and civilians fleeing across the pontoon bridge from an anticipated enemy attack, he tells about a solitary old man sitting at the edge of the structure.
Upon questioning him, Narrator determines that the old man has just walked the twelve kilometers from his home village of San Carlos, but fatigue forces him to halt at the bridge, for he can go no further. The last man to leave the village, the old man's duty is to take care of the animals left behind. It is obvious that he takes his obligation seriously, for he worries more about the cat, two goats, and eight pigeons that were under his care than for his own safety. Sadly, he explains, he was forced to leave them behind. The cat will be able to take care of itself, he adds, but the goats and pigeons will have to fend for themselves. This shows that war not only disturbs humans but also poor, meek animals and birds.
The correspondent suggests that the displaced man cross the bridge to the next crossroads, where he can catch a truck toward Barcelona, but the man explains that "I know no one in that direction."
Although the correspondent is curious, he is not particularly helpful, and when the old man is unable to proceed, the narrator decides that "there was nothing to do about him." The enemy would cross the bridge soon, and death appears imminent for the old man because He lost his hope at the very moment he left his animals. Therefore we can say that he psychologically and symbolically died at the moment he left his animals. That is because he lost his hope and his whole reason for existence. In this respect Hemingway defines life as living with your loved ones and implies that a man can be considered as living only if he carries hope. The old man constantly mentions the symbolic death when he says that he’s tired.
From the book (bulleted)
Thus Hemingway subtly criticizes war and makes us realize that the least destruction that war can cause is destruction of physical property. But the maximum destruction is where people lose their hope as in the situation with the old man. It also shows that even an old man can lose hope due to war.