Death is a central theme in "The Wall." When Pablo is sentenced to death, he begins to view life from a completely new perspective. Those who once held great importance in his life no longer matter to him. He sees his remaining hours as the beginning of his end. Pablo even comes to believe that death is unnatural, pointing out that people live under the delusion that they will continue to exist. As he puts it, people maintain "the illusion of being eternal."

While confined in his cell, Pablo contemplates how others confront the certainty of death. He contrasts the reactions of Tom and Juan to their impending executions: Juan is frightened by the prospect of dying and the pain it might involve; Tom attempts to imagine what it would be like to be shot but cannot, as he envisions himself as an observer of his own death.

When Pablo is brought before the Falangist officers again in the morning, he finds their attempts to intimidate him ridiculous. They do not grasp that their considerable power is overshadowed by the ultimate power of death; they pose no threat to a man who is already doomed to die.

Philosophers G. W. F. Hegel and Karl Marx theorized alienation as a condition where individuals feel disconnected from their true nature. Pablo experiences this alienation after discovering his death sentence. The first indication of his altered perception is when he notices that, instead of feeling the chill of the drafty cell, he is actually sweating. Running his fingers through his hair, he is surprised to find it stiff with sweat, realizing he must have been sweating for hours without noticing.

Over time, Pablo starts perceiving his body as if it belongs to someone else, thinking, ‘‘it was no longer I.’’ As time passes, he also becomes detached from his own consciousness, including the people and ideals that once meant everything to him. He finds that nothing holds significance anymore—not the anarchist movement, not freedom, not even his girlfriend. Pablo increasingly feels ‘‘inhuman,’’ highlighting his estrangement from those around him, from society, and from his former self.

War serves as another pivotal theme in ‘‘The Wall.’’ The narrative unfolds during Spain's harsh civil war, where Spanish forces supporting a republican government clash with the fascist Falangists. Although the story does not directly portray the combat, it highlights some critical elements of living in a war-ravaged area.

For instance, during wartime, courts often impose harsh and arbitrary sentences. While some detainees, such as those facing trial with Pablo, are charged with tangible offenses like sabotaging munitions, others, like Juan, seem to be convicted simply because of their connections to friends or family. The baker Garcia aptly describes this scenario when he remarks after his arrest, apparently for no wrongdoing: "They arrest everybody who doesn’t think the way they do."

Having a foundational understanding of existentialism—a complex philosophical concept thoroughly explored by Sartre in Being and Nothingness—is crucial for interpreting "The Wall." Sartre coined the term existentialism to encapsulate his perspective on human existence. His particular approach, called atheistic existentialism, posits that individuals exist in a universe without a divine presence, where the core human experience is marked by suffering and isolation.

Sartre argued that humans have an inherent desire for completeness and significance; in the absence of these, they endure feelings of anguish and pointlessness. However, existentialism does not suggest that hope is entirely lost for humanity. In a world without predetermined values, individuals have the freedom to shape their identities and characters through their choices and actions. Essentially, people can create...

Nearly half a decade before Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy fully formed, "The Wall" emerged as a compelling narrative that vividly illustrates the core themes of existentialism. By transforming abstract philosophical concepts into a gripping story, it offers a concrete portrayal of existential ideas.

The titular "wall" initially represents the prison courtyard barrier where prisoners await execution, but it transcends its literal meaning. It symbolizes the demarcation between life and death, encapsulating the existential transition from "being" to "nothingness." This metaphorical wall becomes central to the experience of Pablo Ibbieta, the story's protagonist. Though he physically survives to narrate his tale, he symbolically dies the moment he comprehends the looming prospect of his "nothingness." In this instant, the vibrancy of human attributes such as love, friendship, and political engagement withers away, leaving him spiritually barren. It's as if Pablo has crossed to the other side of the wall, leaving behind a life once filled with connectedness and purpose.

In the shadow of impending execution, Pablo finds himself in the early morning hours reflecting on a life that suddenly appears incomplete and curiously unfulfilled. He muses, “I wondered how I’d been able to walk, to laugh with the girls: I wouldn’t have moved so much as my little finger if I had only imagined I would die like this." His life, once seemingly full of potential, now feels final and closed, a container of unfinished ambitions and incomplete actions. This introspection reveals a profound realization: many of his intentions and dreams will perish alongside him, leaving scant evidence of his existence for future generations.

Despite this grim reflection, Pablo remains steadfast in his principles. He clings to a personal code of honor, stands by his commitment to the liberal cause, and resolves to face death "cleanly" and "well." His resolve distinguishes him from his fellow prisoners, who perhaps lack such determination. In Sartre's view, this steadfastness underscores a fundamental existential truth—there is no afterlife, no lingering imprint of one's journey on earth beyond the tangible sum of one's deeds. This narrative offers a sobering meditation on the tenuous nature of life and the inexorable passage of time, compelling a confrontation with the stark reality that defines human existence.