Within the final moments of Robert Jordan’s life reveals his
connection with nature and his total lack of innocence as he prepares himself
for death. This can be seen through his continual use of nature imagery and the
lack of emotion within his diction during his final minutes of life.
Robert Jordan continually
uses the imagery of nature to ready himself for death. His insistence on
thinking death will be like a drink of water for “That’s what it’ll be
like”(470 Hemingway). Robert Jordan’s continual connection with nature pervades
the imagery seen within the final moments of the man’s life as he prepares to
die not a hero’s death but that of a guilty killer lying “the pine needle
floor”(471). This last piece of imagery shows the mental closeness, which
Robert has with nature as he is dying on nature’s floor. This important use of
imagery helps to fully expose this connection with nature for nature is what
allows Robert introspection and to truly express his emotion. This is all
vocalized through the imagery through which the natural world is seen thus
tainted by Robert’s emotions helps to fully expose the man’s true emotions.
Along with the use of imagery
Robert Jordan’s final words are that of calm and acceptance. Within these final
words the acceptance of fate is seen as he marvels at the “sunlit place where
the first trees of the pine forest joined the green slope”(471
Hemingway). Within this last moment of life the crucial diction of
this final thought exposes the acceptance of death by Robert Jordan for he is
no longer and innocent man due to his exposure of violent fighting. For the
physical connotation of the imagery brings to mind calmness and tranquility
juxtaposing the violent and chaotic fighting that consumes the world around us.
This can also be seen as Robert prepares himself ”very carefully and
delicately”(Hemingway 471). For Robert in preparing to die also prepares to
kill thus do this imagery once again highlight the true cruelty of the fighting.
There is no prayer there is no emotion as he prepares to die. This total lack
of emotion within the diction helps to explain the truly complex character of
Robert Jordan.
Through the use of imagery and diction Hemingway exposes the lack of
innocence and the acceptance of death within Robert Jordan. The influence of
nature on Robert Jordan is profound for within the final moments of life it
both calms him and expresses his acceptance of death. This subtle use of both
diction and imagery expresses the mind of Robert and through the character
Hemingway own beliefs upon the violent nature of war and it’s effects on man.
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