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For Whom the Bell Tolls | Macho Posturing in For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Role of Andrés of Villaconejos

In the following essay, Wolfgang E. H. Rudat briefly explores Hemingway’s satirization of macho posturing in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway presents us with a strange dialogue between Fernando and the gypsy woman Pilar, whose praise of melons from the Valencia region draws this reply:

“The melon of Castile is better,” Fernando said. “Qué va,” said [Pilar]. "The melon of Castile is for self abuse. The melon of Valencia is for eating.” (85, italics, except for the Spanish, added)

Why does Hemingway have Pilar recommend the melon of Castile as an object for self abuse for the male Fernando and thus as...

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