Theme of the Story Old Man at the Bridge
In the short story, the author deals with the theme of the tragedy of war. His intention is to illustrate the way wars disrupt the lives of innocent people who are caught up in the middle, but also the way it frustrates those who cannot do anything about it. In the story, the author describes how during the war man shows inhumanity and cruelty to his own race. War brings devastation and mass killings. The inhuman nature of war is highlighted through the pitiable and miserable condition of the old man who can be seen as the symbol of civilian victims of war. The old man who has no family, but the impending war deprives him of everything. He is forced to leave his home and animals. As he is extremely old, he finds himself unable to move a far off place to save his life. He sits by the side of the road. He seems to be as helpless as his goats.
Then, we find the theme of pity and compassion. The soldier (the narrator) shows pity and compassion for the old man. He becomes a friend in need for the old man with whom the lonely man shares his worries. He advises the old man to flee away from the danger. He consoles the old man when the old man expresses his concern for the safety of the animals and laments the fate of the two goats. He assures him (the old man) saying that his animals will be fine. The story comes to an end with the soldier’s showing humanity for the old man.
The story also deals with the theme of resignation, depression and impending death. The old man is the heroic fatalist or fatalistic hero of the story, resigned to his fate as a casualty of the war. He is too old and tired to move. The narrator reflects that he is sure to be killed once the Fascists advance to the bridge across the Ebro. His life is prolonged by the fact that the day is overcast and the Fascists cannot launch their planes and his mind is eased by the fact that cats can look after themselves, but aside from that, the narrator says nothing can be done for him and his death seems certain.
Next, there is the theme of sense of duty. The old man believes that he must watch over the four doves, the cat and the two goats in Sans Carlos. The young soldier feels, that it is his duty to carry out the orders of the evacuation to ensure overall success in the war. While he encounters the old man at the bridge and feels some empathy for him. The soldier does nothing to aid the old man. The old man is tired and old yet the soldier does nothing for him, opting to keep to his sense of duty to the military and his orders.
The old man places the needs of other living things over his own well being and the need to save himself. While he leaves the living things behind, it is due to the fact of old age and the forced evacuation. He would have taken care of them otherwise. The old man represents nature and morality. His duty is to care for nature.
The soldier places the need of the man made and unnatural as priority. He offers a kind ear to the old man but does nothing physically to change the old mem’s situation. While the soldier has orders, he could have taken a moral point of view in the old man’s dilemma. The young soldier represents man’s neglect of nature and tendency toward war or violence.
Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers