“A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway (Book 1 and 2)
The book is an account of a love affair involving Frederick Henry, an American running an ambulance squad in the Italy’s troops during WW1 and Catherine Barkley, an English nurse. The story basically goes on in the battle-scarred Italian territory of 1916.
Hemingway’s sombre attitude and condemnation of the military confrontation by the regular soldiers in the story is made to be a strong anti-war testimonial by the hands of this great dialogue creator. The men are not experts in terms of theoretic or philosophic view of war, yet are closely aware of that simple people do not tend to start war and they would not ever do it. It is only politicians and officers who resort to that. Hemingway uses both dialogue as well as description in border to indicate, propose and help the reader sense, even not stating it straightforwardly, simply how dreadful and senseless war seems to be. We, as readers, tend to have the anti-war feeling, although it is not specified directly.
The beginning of the book is powerful in the sentiments it produces in us by speaking about the environmental alterations of the mountain of northern Italy expressed in the weather changes to result in the harshness of winter time.
The written pictures the author paints of the Great War are generally extremely cruel, however, the way out in this brutality is the garden where Henry and Barkley meet and stroll together on the pages of Book One.
Their love story is perfectly realistic. They are quite regular individuals, neither seriously amiable. The type of love affair seems not to be such that could be described as inspiring. Catherine comes across as a seriously depressed and lonesome individual unconfident of herself, and needing unyielding encouragement. Frederick seems to be more stand-offish, doubtful of love, mostly a sexually driven lone wolf who is practically ensnared by the self-doubting Catherine.
Whether one likes them or not, the author’s lovers sitting and walking in the garden are heartbreakingly realistic, as the troubles and complications of their affair reflects suggestively the ruggedness of the Great War itself.
The site of their developing affair happened to be Italy of 1916. Catherine was undoubtedly a well-raised classic Scotch lady. It could possibly be problematic to make her realistic as a lady who would be so indifferent about their outrageous affair or even the excessive shyness of her sexuality, if Hemingway’s had not wonderfully constructed her person. Catherine previously had been engaged to a soldier. The two people had known each other for years, adhered to the rules of culture and anticipated their sexual union as well as physical independence that matrimony would afford. But later, prior to the time they could join in matrimony and perfect their love, the man was killed in action. This helps to make Catherine’s readiness to expose herself to Frederick absolutely realistic. She is eager to break up all her background and to throw herself easily …