In the lesson ‘Old Man at the Bridge’, Hemingway has beautifully illustrated the fact that war disrupts the lives of ordinary people. Does this hold true even in today’s world? Justify your answer with examples of instances from current events like
refugee crisis’ or civil war in African nations affecting the lives of the ordinary citizens.
Answers
Answer:
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Answer:
The setting is a spot in the countryside during the Spanish Civil War. An old man with spectacles sits exhausted by the side of the road near a pontoon bridge that crosses a river. Peasant refugees and Republican soldiers laden with munitions and supplies flee the advancing Fascist army.
The narrator, who says that his mission is to cross the bridge and find out how far the enemy has advanced, does so and finds the old man who was sitting by the bridge when he crossed toward the enemy still sitting there when he crosses back. He begins talking to the old man and elicits the information that his hometown is San Carlos; he was the last person to leave the town, as he was anxious on behalf of some animals he had charge of.
The narrator, nervously awaiting the advent of the Fascist army and the ensuing battle between the armies, asks the old man about the animals. The old man says he had charge of two goats, a cat, and four pairs of pigeons. He says a major told him to leave the town and the animals because of artillery fire. He says he has no family.
He then begins to express concern about what will happen to the animals. He says the cat will be all right because cats can look after themselves, but he doesn’t know what will happen to the other animals.
The narrator, more concerned for the old man’s safety than that of the animals, inquires what the old man’s politics are, and the old man replies he has none. He is 76, has come 12 kilometers and is too tired to go any further. The narrator tells him to walk up the road and catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona.
The old man thanks him, but continues to express concern over the fate of the animals he left behind. The narrator reassures him, saying the animals will be fine. The doves will fly away, the narrator says, but the old man continues to worry about the goats. The narrator tells him it is better not to think about it, and that he should get up and walk to the trucks.
The old man tries to get up and walk, but he is too tired and sinks back down. The narrator thinks, in closing, that the old man’s only luck is that cats can look after themselves and that the day is overcast so the Fascists aren’t able to launch their planes