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Farewell to Arms (Book Review) A Farewell to Arms can be regarded as a story of a man whose experiences of love and war lead to tragedy. This mans name is Frederic Henry, and he is the main character in the story. Throughout the novel, the Frederic Henry progressively comes toan understanding of himself and the values by which he lives, achieving a complete knowledge of death. Up until this point india life, Frederic Henry has probably never faced death, and therefore doesnt really know what death is. He begins with virtually no understanding of death, not understanding the horrors or consequences that come along with it. Frederic then gradually comes to a full comprehension of the meaning, understanding the complications and feelings of death.
At the beginning of the novel, Frederic Henry has absolutely no understanding of death, thinking hes invincible. Henry doesnt see the reality of death, having a naive sense of immortality. As Edgar Johnson says, Lieutenant Henry is in the war, but his attitude toward it is purely that of a spectator. While Henry thinks of the war, he notes Well, I knew I would not be killed. (p. 37) Frederic Henry was an ambulance driver in the war, and overlooks the danger at times seeing the war as no more dangerous to me myself than the war in the movies (p. 37) Henry sees no danger iowa because he doesnt understand death.
Instinctively thinking that he cannot die, Frederic has no concept of death. Henrys comprehension of death remotely progresses when heis painfully made aware or his own mortality. Henry is beginning to realize that death is possible, but still doesnt understand death. Frederic is told to take four ambulances to the area near the river because there is to be a attack. While he and his fellow drivers a resitting in a dugout eating cold macaroni and cheese, there was atlas, as when a blast-furnace door is swung open, and a roar that started white and went red and on and on in a rushing wind. (Hemingway p. 54) Henrys dugout had been hit by a mortar shell and Henry was seriously wounded. The lieutenants legs felt warm and wet.
He leaned over to put his hand on his knee and his knee wasnt there, I looked down at my leg and was very afraid. Oh, god I said, get me out of here. (Hemingway p. 65) Henry begins to show a little fear of death. Subsequently, Frederic heard someone behind him saying Mama Mia! (Hemingway p. 55) Its one of his drivers, Passini. Passini's legs had been smashed above the knees. The lieutenant remarks, I saw there was no need try and make a tourniquet because he [Passini] was already dead. (Hemingway p. 55) Later in the novel, Henry gets fed upwind the war, and runs away from it. I would agree with Phillip Young who believes that Henry runs away in order to escape ascertain death which he doesnt deserve.
Henry now realizes that itis possible for even him to be killed in the war. He is terrified, andrews. This action showcases Henrys distant understanding of death. At the end of the novel, Frederic Henry finally obtains an understanding of the horrors of death when coping with the death of his beloved Catherine, who dies from giving birth.
Henryobserves Catherine having another horrible hemorrhage and knows that he has just witnessed her death. Frederic adds that It did noritake her [Catherine] long to die. (Hemingway p. 331) I must agree with Robert W. Lewis who states that Catherines death is really only the end of a beginning as far as Frederic Henry is concerned. Henry had finally met someone that he could love and care for, andrew Catherine has unexpectedly been taken away from him. Lewis goes in to remark that Henry has undergone an initiatory and learning experience that he is now ready to interpret. After Catherine has passes away, Frederic chases everyone out of Catherines room.
He shut the door and turned out the light to give her some peace and quiet. To Henry, it was like saying good-beta a statue. This displays that Frederic has respect for the deceased and understands death. (Hemingway p. 332) Frederic Henry has likely never lost anyone close to him and this is a learning experience for him. At the close of the novel, Henry Doesnt seem very upset, but he probably is in shock, especially if has never lost anyone close to him in the past. Henry doesnt question why Catherine had to die, he just accepts it and realizes that death is a just a part of life.
After Catherine dies, Fredericwalks off into the cold rainy night, alone and tormented. Frederic Henry has gradually come more accepting of death, he has come terms with the fact that all people are going to die and there is noway around it. Throughout A Farewell To Arms, Lieutenant Frederick Henry slowly comes to a full and complete understanding of death. The lieutenant begins with virtually no understanding of death in the beginning of the novel.
The lieutenant simply doesnt see the horrors and pain that accompany death. Henry then advances to alight or superficial comprehension of deaths meaning when he is seriously injured and questions his own mortality. It is not until the closing pages of the novel where we see Frederic realize what death really is. Here, Henry is forced to deal with the death of his adored wife Catherine, who has so very suddenly died while giving birth to Henrys child. While telling this story, Frederic Henryrecognizes what life is all about. More importantly, Henryrecognizes what dieing really is and what it means.
One could ask that if Frederic Henry does not fully understand death, than how would he find the strength and knowledge to narrate A Farewell To Arms. Three years after writing A Farewell To Arms, Hemingway wrote Death in the Afternoon, pointing out that love stories donated happily in life. One could guess that the theme for this novel came from the ending of A Farewell To Arms, however, this would a little presumptive. Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell To Arms. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1957 Johnson, Edgar.
The Sewanee Review, Vol 48, (1940) Lewis, Robert. Hemingway on Love. University of Texas Press, 1965 Young, Philip. Loser Take Nothing 20 th Century Interprotationof A Farewell To Arms. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc. , 1970
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Research essay sample on Farewell To Arms Understanding Of Death
