farewell to arms :: essays research papers

In Hemingways semi-autobiographical classic A Farwell to Arms, deputy sheriff Fredrick Henry labors through the first world war, then referred to as the war to end all told wars. Henry is an American ambulance driver enlisted in the Italian army stationed in Austria. When a mortar explodes in Henrys field post and nearly blows off his knee, hes direct to an American- streak hospital in Milan, Italy. There he re-unites with his lover, Catherine Barkley, an English Nurse he had a previous relationship on his days in a peaceful Austrian city which consisted of playing a game of sorts, she ask him to declare his love until finally, to her dissent, Henry does declare legitimate affection with the lowest sincerity. The two then begin a torrent love map inside the military hospital. During his six-month furlough, Henrys attitude about the war drastically changes. When having an intimate conversation with Barkley one night he says If mint bring so much courage to this world the w orld has to branch them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks e trulyone and afterward many are steadfast in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the brave impartially. This quote illustrates a very cynical point of view after Henry has lost his doctrine in human nature. Soon, he wishes to be completely isolated from all current international proceedings. The German army soon invades Italy, and Fredrick ultimately decides to run off to Switzerland with Nurse Barkley and escape the horrors of the war, rather than fight the invasion. During the retreat, the Italian regular army was executing the officers considered traitors for not leading their men during a time of impending doom on the Austrian front.