Throughout the novel A Farewell to Arms, the main characters are in search of a tranquilizer to cope with the war. Each character seeks something that will bring them solace amidst the horrors of the ongoing war. Hemingway highlights how harsh realities can penetrate and shatter the illusions that these characters create to alleviate their suffering.
In the midst of World War I, a period characterized by disillusionment, sadness, and loneliness, the narrative revolves around Frederic Henry. As both protagonist and narrator, Frederic represents the archetypal Hemingway male figure. Serving as an American ambulance driver in the Italian war, he exemplifies traits such as unwavering action and a strong personal code of honor.
At the start of the novel, the main character displays various traits. However, as the narrative progresses, he experiences a change. He decides to give up his arrogant and promiscuous actions to pursue a future with Catherine. Catherine Barkley, an English nurse, becomes the recipient of Frederic’s intense affection. Rinaldi, a surgeon and Henry’s friend, along with the Priest who becomes a trusted confidant for Frederic, are also important figures in the tale.
The primary focus of the novel is a romance that depicts the gradual transition of Frederic and Catherine’s playful attractions into a profound and lasting love. The war plays a crucial role in uniting them, yet also temporarily separates them. This conflict inflicts various forms of harm upon its victims, encompassing emotional, physical, and psychological damage. Throughout the narrative, the characters employ diverse strategies to alleviate their individual anguish.
Many individuals were attempting to discover methods to escape and deal with the difficult truths. In A Farewell to Arms, the characters appear to embody this struggle. They resort to their own individual coping mechanisms in order to maintain the illusion that they were truly finding solace. Each of them attempts to avoid facing their fears of the harsh realities they were confronted with, ultimately providing themselves some form of tranquility.
At the beginning of winter, there is a sense of detachment from the war for Frederic Henry. Hemingway (10) states, “At the start of winter came the permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera. But it was checked and in the end only seven thousand died of it in the army.” Losing seven thousand soldiers to something other than combat is even more devastating than losing them in battle.
Henry’s indifference to the losses is evident through his use of the term “only.” Being American puts him at a disadvantage with the Italian soldiers since he does not share their fervor for winning the war. Henry appears apathetic towards the patriotism that drives the Italians, as if nothing holds much importance to him until he encounters Catherine.
Throughout the novel, Henry leans heavily on alcohol to relieve his physical and emotional anguish. From start to finish, his obsession with alcohol is evident, even to the point of contemplating the greatness of whiskey. Indeed, good whiskey brings great pleasure and is a highlight in life.
In the book, the narrator is asked what they are thinking about, and they reply that they are thinking about the goodness of whiskey (Hemingway 278). Additionally, there is a mention of the narrator instructing a porter at the hospital to secretly obtain alcohol for them (Hemingway 84). The narrator also expresses pity towards someone else who is suffering from jaundice.
Pity is wasted on you, as you refuse to return to the front. However, it is expected that you would pursue something more intelligent than causing jaundice through alcoholism. When asked about it, he continues to drink despite having contracted jaundice. (Hemingway 133)
Despite knowing the negative consequences, Henry continues his relentless pursuit for solace. His longing for a momentary relief is so powerful that he is prepared to gamble with physical suffering and potential mortality. This attribute resurfaces during Catherine’s labor, coinciding with Frederic’s consumption of alcohol. As the agony experienced by Catherine grows increasingly severe, his intake of drinks escalates.
Henry drinks alcohol prior to Catherine being given anesthesia for her C-section, indicating his need to be sedated before her. It is evident that the strain compels him to rely on alcohol. Furthermore, Henry also uses his relationship with Catherine as a means of coping with his problems.
At first, Henry treats their relationship as a way to escape from the harsh reality of their disillusionment. Henry is disappointed with the war while Catherine is grieving the loss of her fiancé. As Henry gets injured, Catherine becomes his caretaker. Eventually, their playful exchanges evolve into genuine affection. The love that initially served as a distraction for both of them grows into a strong force that motivates them to continue.
Their bond functions as a means of escape from the harsh realities that surround them, providing solace to both. Catherine is portrayed as a captivating character in the story, initially leading the reader to believe she is somewhat insane. However, when she reveals the loss of her fiancé, it becomes clear that her behavior is influenced by her grief.
Catherine relies on her physical attributes to allure men as a way of dealing with her emotions. Similar to Henry, she initially perceives their relationship as a playful diversion, but soon realizes it has a significant impact on her life. As their love grows, it enables them to progress. However, at a certain point, it also becomes overwhelming and they seek to divert their attention from it.
Henry attempts to divert his thoughts from Catherine while he is escaping. Though he could recall memories of Catherine, he understood that fixating on her might drive him to madness in the uncertainty of their future encounter. Therefore, he deliberately refrained from contemplating about her, except for occasional moments of contemplation. (Hemingway 209). Their love is overpowering.
Nothing else matters to them when they are in each other’s presence, forming illusions. Eventually, they make a joint decision to flee to Switzerland, dreaming of a flawless life together. However, the chaos surrounding them shatters the sense of normality they once experienced. As a result, both individuals are confronted with unfamiliar emotions.
The impact of war compels them to behave in ways they never anticipated. Both seek an escape from reality and find solace in their relationship, where they construct a world they perceive as more genuine. Rinaldi, Henry’s companion, also relies on diversionary strategies to evade his own realities. Similar to Henry, alcohol plays a prominent role in his life throughout the novel, appearing in nearly every scene he is present.
Both Henry and Rinaldi struggle to acknowledge the detrimental impact of alcohol on their lives. Despite the potential risks to their health and professional pursuits, they willingly indulge in drinking. However, Rinaldi differs from Henry as he also battles an addiction to women. He frequently discusses his visits to brothels, using sexuality as a means to showcase his physical strength and flee from his own realities.
Rinaldi’s main concerns are centered on indulging in alcohol, engaging in sexual activities, and focusing on his job. In the end, Henry reflects on the potential repercussions of Rinaldi’s carefree way of life, pondering whether he has faced any consequences. Henry asks him directly, “What is currently occupying your thoughts?”
In Hemingway’s novel, the author poses a query about Rinaldi’s health, particularly if he has syphilis (269). Moreover, the reader remains ignorant of Rinaldi’s eventual destiny. Rinaldi’s priorities are evident as he exhibits indifference towards the overall quality of his life and instead concentrates on relishing every moment.
His need for sedation is so extreme that he is completely oblivious to the cost involved. The priest is the final figure in the book who seeks solace. However, unlike the other characters, his methods of distraction do not cause harm. He relies on his belief in God to provide him with support.
Despite facing constant attacks on his faith while interacting with other soldiers, he remains steadfast in his beliefs. However, towards the end, he struggles with Henry’s points about humanity and his faith appears to falter. In the latter part of their exchange, he expresses sorrow over the situation, stating, “That’s why I never contemplate these matters. I never ponder, yet when I start to speak, I convey the thoughts I have discovered within my own mind without speaking.”
“(Hemingway 165). The priest is desperate to maintain his belief that the war will end soon and that there is goodness in everyone. However, this coping mechanism blinds him to the actual realities of the situation. When Henry becomes aware of the harsh truths, the priest is at a loss for how to respond and becomes discouraged.
Ultimately, we discover that there is no solace, only transient instances of relief. Hemingway’s portrayal of war illustrates how even lofty concepts like glory and honor diminish in the face of the futile reality of warfare. There is no genuine escape; it remains a constant presence, though not always at the forefront of one’s consciousness.
The concept is that both love and war result in unhappiness from which there is no way out. Acts and language that provide some respite are only fleeting. Ultimately, none of it carries any significance. Catherine sums it up perfectly when she claims “it’s just a dirty trick” (Hemingway 296).
Despite finally escaping the war to live their dream life in Switzerland, Catherine and Henry experience a tragic turn of events as Catherine and the baby pass away during childbirth. Ultimately, Henry comes to the realization that everything falls short, leaving no room for new understanding or control. Instead, we are left shattered and directionless. While Henry attempted to alleviate Catherine’s labor pains by increasing the gas levels, unfortunately, the outcome remained unchanged – she lost her life.
The protagonist in the novel strives to improve his life when it becomes too much for him, but this ultimately results in him being alone in the rain. All of the characters share a desire to escape, but they all experience some kind of downfall. Rinaldi and Catherine die physically, while Henry and the Priest suffer emotional deaths. Ultimately, no matter how much one tries to avoid and lessen suffering, true escape is impossible.
Life is ruthless and forces each of us to face its harsh realities.
