An empowered woman who is Pablo's wife. She is the leading figure in their relations. In fact, she dominates over Pablo and makes him do what he should. Surely, she is the strongest female character in the book. Pilar is a confirmed Republican who is committed to national affairs and never leaves the chosen path. She is a powerful and wise woman who has a lot of talents. Also, she possesses a prominent skill of storytelling. Pilar tells Robert Jordan the story of how the movement began in the town. She is also a mystically-inclined gypsy who embodies the wisdom of the Spanish peasantry. In many situations, Pilar relies on mystical, gypsy folks. When she looks at Robert Jordan's hand, she realizes that his life journey is almost ended. At the same moment, she sees a special connection between Maria and Robert Jordan. Pilar believes that only pure, true love may heal Maria. Being a courageous woman, Pilar also plays a leading role in the war, motivating force behind key events. In fact, she is an organizer of the guerrillas’ alliance with El Sordo. Even more, she unites the band fighters into one family. Pilar claims that she can feel the coming of death and describe her feelings in a very naturalistic way. As a witch, she also reads palms and her predictions very often become true. Regardless of Robert Jordan’s doubt, the woman's predictions become true. Only one aspect of Pilar's personality that seems not to show truth is her solid commitment to the Republican side, the side that finally loses the war.
Pilar Quotes
You only heard the statement of the loss. You did not see the father fall as Pilar made him see the fascists die in that story she had told by the stream. You knew the father died in some courtyard, or against some wall, or in some field or orchard, or at night, in the lights of a truck, beside some road. You had seen the lights of the car from down the hills and heard the shooting and afterwards you had come down to the road and found the bodies. You did not see the mother shot, nor the sister, nor the brother. You heard about it; you heard the shots; and you saw the bodies.
I don’t know, Robert Jordan said. When I get very tired sometimes I speak English.Or when I get very disgusted. Or baffled, say. When I get highly baffled I just talk English to hear the sound of it. It’s a reassuring noise. You ought to try it sometime.What do you say, Inglés? Pilar said. It sounds very interesting but I do not understand.Nothing, Robert Jordan said. I said, ‘nothing’ in English.
Pilar in the Essays
Ernest Hemingway’s novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, is a story about Robert Jordan, an American professor, who travels to Spain to fight with the Spanish guerrillas. Jordan’s western prejudices against gypsies and his romantic ideals are transformed by the guerillas he meets especially...
Author: Frank Frazier