In wars those without sins suffers the most. Being a victim is hard, and it might not seem like there is a light at the end of the tunnel, especially if you are being forced to leave the ones you love behind. The short story “The Old Man at the Bridge” written by Ernest Hemmingway is about an old man who was forced to leave his home country during the Spanish Civil War.
Ernest Hemmingway’s point of this story is to show how much destruction a war can cause to even an innocent victim. The old man was not involved in the war and didn’t support any sides. “I am without politics” (P 1, l. 33) He didn’t have any family but only a few animals that he was taking care of. His world was centered on his animals and he basically lived for these animals. “I was only taking care of animals. He said dully, but no longer to me. “I was only taking care of animals" (P. 2. L 55) When he was forced to leave his home country due to artillery his world fell apart. He had lost all hope.
The animals, the old man was taking care of, was also a symbol in itself. The pigeons represent peace. They are able to fly away, away from war and disaster, but they could also represent refugees who are trying to escape from the war. The cat represents independence and doesn’t need to be taken care of, meanwhile the goat is a sacrificing animal and it could represent the old man. The old man is a victim of the war just like the goat.
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