For centuries upon centuries, the essence of war has shaped and evolved the
             world that we live in today. There are very few positive characteristics
             that come out of engaging in war because of how widely detrimental to the
             world it can be. In the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway takes a
             relatively small war in the history of wars (Spanish Civil War), and
             emphasizes some of the detrimental affects war has on human nature. This
             novel reiterates how war changes the value of human life, how innocence is
             lost and how romantic love is affected. Hemingway's detached, journalistic
             style helps focus on the characters senses, like smell, touch, or hearing,
             although some of this description is restricted to Robert Jordan's
             perspective. Yet this style of writing also invites a more tangible way of
             emphasizing those different aspects of human nature that are affected
             through war. Thus, the purpose that lies behind this novel is to
             demonstrate war's effect on human nature, which is achieved through
             illustrating the psychology of the characters, beneath the surface of their
             The value of human life, as it exists in For Whom the Bell
             Tolls, varies by character. A recurring point that appears throughout the
             novel suggests how one comes to value life can determine their loss of
             innocence. Equally, Hemingway frequently revisits the morality of each
             character contains regarding their own life and taking the life of others.
             The two moral stances taken are illustrated through Pablo and his guerilla
             followers, and Anselmo. Pablo is a character whom has killed many people,
             thus takes life as he deems necessary to fulfill his objective in sustaining
             the fascists. Then, there is the other side presented through Anselmo, whom
             doesn't take pleasure in killing others, yet will take life if necessary to
             secure his own. Robert Jordan falls somewhere in between these two
             ...