For Whom the Bell Tolls: Novel Summary: Chapter 34

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Chapter 34

Summary
Making his way through the Spanish countryside, Andres feels the freedom of a reprieve, like the mornings in his village when the charge of the bull is called off because of rain. Many times, he has been the hero of the village, the one grasping the bull's tail to get him off a gored victim, yet despite these acts of courage, he is nevertheless happy when the event is called off. Now, charged with delivering Jordan's message to Golz, he feels the same way. But, although he wants very badly to return to go home-he knows the mission will fail and all will die-he must, he tells himself sternly, return as soon as possible to help the Republicans blow up the bridge. Soon he approaches a hill where he knows he will be challenged: "ahead of him now, on the top of the ridge was the government position" (268).
Analysis
Andres realizes that the Cause is futile and that the entire guerilla group is doomed. He thinks about home where the divided village is made up of simple peasant men of Spain, like him. Indeed, at this point, it becomes difficult to tell one group from another, and even more difficult to understand their different philosophies. Like Pablo, Andres just wishes to put down his gun and return home: "thou art an unfortunate man he told himself" (368).