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(answer in 400-500 word)
Answers
The short story ‘The Old Man at the Bridge’ is written by Ernest Hemingway. It is a story which depicts how people become helpless due to situations that are beyond their control.
This story shows a setting in San Carlos during the Spanish Civil war. The author’s mission was to cross the bridge daily to check the advancement of the army into their territory.
On one such occasion, the author happened to come across an old man sitting near the bridge at the Ebro river. Although he knew the army had reached really close, the old man would not listen to the author’s plea of moving from there. He could not bear to part with the animals and birds he loved the most.
The old man refused to move even when he knew the army was drawing closer. This was because he had to let go of his favorite animals and birds. The author was ready to help him board a truck towards Barcelona so that he could escape. But, the old man did not budge from his stand. The poet felt helpless because the old man’s refusal to save himself was because of a situation that was not in the poet’s control.
ONE ANSWR IS:-
The old man at the bridge is a victim of circumstances. He has no politics, and yet, his world has been torn apart by a war he takes no sides in. He has nowhere to go, everyone from his village left before him. The old man stayed to care for the animals and only left when forced to. He is too weak to continue and too worried about the animals and life he left behind. He is helpless and without direction all because of circumstances beyond his control.
SECOND ONE IS:-
The short story ‘The Old Man at the Bridge’ is written by Ernest Hemingway. It is a story which depicts how people become helpless due to situations that are beyond their control.
This story shows a setting in San Carlos during the Spanish Civil war. The author’s mission was to cross the bridge daily to check the advancement of the army into their territory.
On one such occasion, the author happened to come across an old man sitting near the bridge at the Ebro river. Although he knew the army had reached really close, the old man would not listen to the author’s plea of moving from there. He could not bear to part with the animals and birds he loved the most.
The author was prepared to help the old man to get out from there. However, the old man refuses to move from there, which makes the poet feel helpless.