A Farewell to Arms: An In-Depth Analysis - Research Paper Example

(Surname) 1 A Farewell to Arms: An In-Depth Analysis Introduction This paper touches the symbolisms of Hemingway’s novel “A Farewell to Arms” in relation to the themes, characters and the setting of the story. It explains the connection of the three literary devices to each other and their effect on the entirety of the tragic but heart-melting novel. Summary The setting of the story coincides in the era of World War I. Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver; serving in the Italian army narrates the story. At the onset of the novel, when the war has subsided and Henry has thoughts of touring Italy, winter comes into surface. Upon Henry’s return from his tour, he meets Catherine Barkley, a nurse aide, who happens to be the love interest of Rinaldi. The latter fades as Henry and Catherine engage in a sexual relationship that eventually leads them to a love they never thought they will ever have. (Tyler, p. 11) Frederic Henry Henry portrays a role of a man of duty who rejects the fame and recognition of honour and patriotism. These concepts are unseen in his character and the things he (Surname) 2 only recognizes are the facts of war. Being a product of it, Henry becomes cold and numb. But as his encounters with Catherine progress, astonishing enough for the readers, Henry succumbs himself into the game Catherine suggests – the game of seduction. (Tyler, p. 18) His attitude towards Catherine is quite amusing since he appears to be indifferent due to him being a product of war. Hemingway tries to tell the readers that Catherine is Henry’s escape from war. Catherine Barkley Catherine depicts the character of a beautiful nurse aide with blonde hair who grieves for the death of her fiancé. Upon meeting Henry, she engages into a playful and reckless game of seduction. She, like Henry, takes their relationship as a way to free themselves from their own depressions. It is shown in the novel that Catherine finds certain euphoria in her relationship with Henry, which takes her away from the grieving woman inside her. (Tyler, p. 21) Rinaldi Rinaldi plays the role of a surgeon who serves the Italian army during the World War I. He is the closest friend of Henry and is an unbelievable womanizer. Behind his character is a man tired of war. Just like Henry, Rinaldi’s drinking and womanizing are just his ways of diverting his mind from the horrors of war. He symbolizes an (Surname) 3 array of male characters that represent competent and masculine but good-natured men. (Tyler, p. 23) Themes Themes like war, duty, religion, love and abandonment are the fundamental ideas explored in the novel “A Farewell to Arms.” War Most of the characters in the novel are marked by the war. Through Henry, Catherine, Rinaldi and down to the soldiers of war, Hemingway shows his opinion about the war being a senseless waste of life. It is mentioned in the novel that Henry sees war to be a necessary evil at first. (Donaldson, p. 66) This is the underlying factor why Henry acts as a stoic, cold and detached man. At the end of the novel, Henry, a man of duty, sees war as an unjust act of violence which leads him to escaping from it with Catherine. Duty The theme of duty is present from the onset of the novel until the latter part of it. Henry and Catherine have duties to fulfil in the army – an ambulance driver and a nurse aide. Both of them are dedicated to what they do, especially Henry, that he even rejects to be recognized for the heroisms and patriotism he has done for men. Other characters in the novel like the priest, Dr. Valentini, Helen, Ms. Gage, Ms. Van Campen, Bonello, Moretti and some other casts are also bounded by their duties and they give their utmost might to perform what they believe in. (Bloom, p. 27) (Surname) 4 Religion, Stress and Love The theme of religion is present in the novel. Relating the famous line “There are no atheists in foxholes.” in A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway tell the readers that in times of great stress like the war, everyone will hope for a holy intervention. Though this saying does not impact the character of Henry being a bitter realist, he has a personal religion of which he acquires from the priest and Count Greffi that he should commit with religious devotion to someone he loves. “Then too you are in love. Do not forget that is a religious feeling.” (Bloom, p. 33) Instances like the medallion of St. Anthony that Henry puts under his shirt when he is in battle and the prayer he says when Catherine is dying proves that people will turn to religion when stress and love come into surface. Abandonment and Death This theme is observed in the novel. It comes into surface mainly when Henry decides to leave the army since chasing death is a fact of war. And after he shoots one of the engineers who refuse to help them, he knows that is getting closer to it. Henry’s violence is not a result of his code of conduct but an effect of the destructive war. He abandons his obligations and responsibilities as an officer, just like the uncooperative engineer and escapes with Catherine to Switzerland. “It is now hard to leave the country but it is in no way impossible.” (Hemingway, p. 238) (Surname) 5 Symbols A great deal of symbolism is represented in the novel. Symbols like the rain, Catherine’s hair, Henry’s beard, drinking, sex and love are the main symbols seen in the story. Rain Rain symbolizes its association with death and tragedy throughout the novel. It is first encounter in the Chapter 1 when rain is related to cholera, resulting to killing 7,000 soldiers in the war. In Chapter 19, Catherine says, “I’m afraid of the rain because sometimes I see me dead in it.” Even with Catherine’s perception, rain is a gloomy symbol. She thinks that it puts lovers away from each other. Just like in war, the rain is like tragedy that can fall relentlessly. When Henry returns to front from Milan and when he rows across the lake to Switzerland, it is pouring rain. At the end of the novel, when Henry walks out of the hospital after Catherine dies, it is pouring rain. This makes the theme a potent symbol of tragedy and death and Catherine’s demise validates her own apprehension in the novel that love, no matter how it is, will eventually end. (Bloom, p. 111) Hair and Beard Catherine’s hair, as well as Henry’s beard, symbolizes defence. In the early part of the relationship of two, when the former unpins her hair, she lets it fall and tumble to Henry’s head. This reminds Henry of his times under a tent or behind a waterfall that acted as his shelter in the past. Hemingway’s wonderful description of this (Surname) 6 symbol relates to Henry’s isolation from the world. Same goes with Henry’s beard that he has grown during the times he and Catherine are managing their blissful seclusion from the war. This also implies as their defence. (Donaldson, p. 52) Sex and Drinks Sex and drinks are common symbols in the story. They represent not alcoholic and perverted men but men who turn to alcohol and women to divert themselves from the horrors of the war. Henry and Rinaldi finds the comfort of alcohol and the euphoria of womanizing whenever they have the chance to get away from the war. Although this doesn’t stay long in Henry’s character due to his meeting and a sudden relationship with Catherine, sex and drinks in the novel symbolize diversions. Same goes for Catherine, though she is not a soldier and sees war from a distance as a nurse aide, she seeks the euphoria of sex the gives her illusion of love to distract herself from the pain she feels that is caused by the death of her fiancé. (Donaldson, p. 69) Catherine engages in a game of seduction with Henry at first but eventually lead her to falling in love and being scared again. “I’m afraid of the rain because sometimes I see me dead in it.” Her line does not pertain to physical death but the death of her heart. Since rain is symbolized as an association with tragedy and death in the novel, Catherine makes a statement about the love she feels for Henry and the thought of losing again a man of war. (Bloom, p. 113) (Surname) 7 Realism Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms has a great deal of realism. For instance, his portrayal of Henry’s killing of the uncooperative engineer intensifies realism in the novel. He depicts that killing the engineer out of anger is equivalent to the engineer, not helping his comrades to get the car out of the mud. Hemingway’s tone through the detached Henry doesn’t give the readers the moral grounds to judge the incident; rather, he only relays the facts. The violent outburst of Henry becomes justifiable due to the connivance of his fellow soldiers. This act can be viewed as a product of war which robs it of its moral import. (Tyler, p. 55) The support that Henry gets from his fellow soldiers implies of his action being normal and that delving deeper, there is a greater deal of absurdity at work. Hemingway states the fact about the lack of sense of good and evil on the action of Henry has so much relation to where the he finds himself. Hemingway is a realist himself and he portrays that through the character of Henry. Realism is in complete contrast of idealism. It sees the facts of life and not how a person perceives it to be. Just like with Henry, he sees the war as killing people and destroying lands. He doesn’t see honour and patriotism play a part in it which is the reason behind his coldness and detachment from it. Same goes with the majority of the characters who are ambivalent about the glory and dignity the war gives. (Bloom, p. 133) Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Scribner, 1957. Print. Donaldson, Scott. New Essays on a Farewell to Arms. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Print. Bloom, Harold. Ernest Hemingway's a Farewell to Arms. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Print. Tyler, Lisa. Teaching Hemingway's a Farewell to Arms. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2008. Print. Read More