Question

there are times when people are made helpless by situations beyond their control.justify the statement in the context of the story "old man at the bridge" for english literature project​

Answer 1

Answer:

The statement that there are times when people are made helpless by situations beyond their control is entirely appropriate to the context of “Old Man at the Bridge.” The old man has indeed been made helpless by situations beyond his control. His whole life has been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War. Forced to move from his home town, he now has to move on again if he’s to avoid the imminent arrival of the fascists.

Explanation:

“Old Man at the Bridge” is a very moving account of how ordinary people are invariably the victims of conflict. Even those like the old man who choose not to take sides and are not in any way politically minded so often find themselves caught up in the middle of war through no fault of their own, unable to determine their own futures. In such situations, civilians are utterly helpless, forced to endure the constant tension that comes with knowing that they and their loved ones can have their lives disrupted, or even ended, at any moment.

Just such a situation applies to the old man. The war has forced him to up sticks from his hometown and leave behind the large menagerie of which he was taking care. The old man didn’t want any of this; he didn’t ask for it. He simply did as he was told by the soldiers and left town to join the large caravan of refugees forced to flee for their lives.

And now as he sits by the bridge watching a steady stream of his fellow refugees making their...

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