Themes In A Farewell To Arms :: essays research papers

A farewell To Arms ThemesThere are three major themes in Hemingways A Farewell to Arms. The first themeis enduring lovemaking ended only by mortality. The second, the effects of war on a mans idealsand morals, things which people can and do believe during war. The last and mostimportant theme is Frederic hydrogens disillusionment. Hemingway shows that love can persevere in a world ruined with war. Frederic is non looking for love, and when Rinaldi introduces him to Catherine Barkley, he thinks ofher as merely a sexual conquest. hydrogen considers his flirting with Catherine like moves ina chess game.. Henry thinks Catherine is a critical bit crazy, and both admit they are acting.At the front, Henry realizes he is lonely without her and misses her. But it is not until hemeets her, after he is wounded and move to an American hospital, that he realizes he lovesher. Henry admits he didnt want to fall in love with her, but even so he has. Their lovecontinues to grow during his stay at the hospital. Their relationship is unusual since theyrarely argue. Their ideal relationship provides them with refuge from the war. However,love, has its limit, mortality. Henry leaves for the front again he suggests that their dally is only ended by death. He notices because of his love he has become gentle.When he deserts and returns to Catherine he finds comfort, order, and courage. He says,foreshadowing the end of their love, If people remove so much courage to this world theworld has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them.. Henry has becomedependent on Catherine. His love for her is slopped enough to ease his disillusionment InChapter 41 their baby is born dead. Henry hopelessly watches as Catherine dies and he isleft without comfort or hope.Henrys ideals and morals change during the novel. He begins to question the legaland immoral theories of the war and replace them with illegal but moral ideas. Forinstance, in Chapter 7 Henry meets a soldier who wants to be taken to a hospital which isagainst the rules. At first Henry objects, but when the soldier asks him You wouldntwant to go in the line all the time, would you?, he answers no and decides to return laterand pick him up. Henry has been unable to find new morals, since he has lost faith in whatthe leaders proclaim. Another example is the Romantic ideology of the time, the belief