Jordan Self-Reliant Character

In his essay, Emerson proclaims that man should learn to trust his inner beliefs. This is shown when Emerson states, “No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.” When considering this idea, it is evident that Robert Jordan is a self- reliant character. Jordan decides to volunteer for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. At first, Jordan believes that he joined the Republican side because he feels obligated to serve his nation. Interestingly, Jordan does not recognize the true motivation in enlisting in the first place. When Emerson states that “[s]ociety everywhere is in a conspiracy against the manhood,” he suggests that it is difficult for the society to accept ideas that are different from the norm. This idea can be

It is very evident that his inner conflict is a symbol of how hard it is for society to accept changes because he struggles with the question of why he joined the war. In reality, he really knows that the reason is different from what society really accepts. Later, he realizes that he does not really believe in the Republican cause. If fact, he discovers that he only joined the Republicans because they fought against Fascism. This reason is different from what is accepted. This realization shows that Robert Jordan fights for a side he does not support, which eventually causes internal conflict, from which he understands the true reasons of why he became a part of the war. Eventually, Robert Jordan understands his reasons to join that war are faulty, showing Emerson's belief that “a man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within.” This example basically states that people should follow their own instincts because the truth is found from within, which is exactly how Robert Jordan found out that he does not necessarily support that Republican cause, but really favors the fight

A case can be made that Hemingway reveals Emerson’s ideas through Jordan’s inner monologue. Jordan deals with his inner conflict as he thinks to himself, “You felt that you were taking part in a crusade....It would be as difficult and embarrassing to speak about as a religious experience and yet it was authentic....It gave you a part in something that you could believe in wholly and completely and in which you felt an absolute brotherhood with the others who were engaged in it” (Hemingway 235). It is here, where the reader can take away that the first reason Robert Jordan ever enrolled himself with the Republicans was to believe in “wholly and completely” and also to encounter “absolute brotherhood.” However, he appears confused about how he views the Republican cause. His current option shows that he thinks the leaders have "betrayed" their people. In addition, the religious vocabulary Hemingway uses, such as “crusade”, emphasizes the depth of Robert Jordan’s feelings, suggesting that for Jordan, the Republican cause is like another religion. This shows his self-reliance because he is a part of and believes so much that he is a part of something beyond himself. However, Robert Jordan's use of the religious language has irony to it because he immediately distances himself from using these religious metaphors which he says