Novelist Edith Wharton stated that “at every process of his tale the novelist must rely on what may be called the illuminating incident to reveal and emphasize the inner meaning of each situation”. The author of A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway, took her words into account as he created many “illuminating moments” for the reader. These instances act as casements to solidify the meaning and theme of the novel. Hemingway tells of an episode like this in which an American driver on the Italian front, Frederic Henry, jumps into a river to escape the pain and depression of the war that seems to engulf everything in its path. He will do anything to relieve the mental and physical pain brought on by the battles and spend his days with the only
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It was this bond between them, that kept either one wanting to live another day amidst the death and destruction of war. Henry recalls “I could remember Catherine but I knew I would get crazy if I thought about her when I was not sure yet I would see her, so I would not think about her, only about her a little” (Hemingway 231). In his world filled with destruction and victims fighting for survival, Catherine is the one he loves more than anything. He doesn’t ask much, only to spend time with her, as she already gives him everything he desires. Henry must refrain from even thinking about her as he may get his hopes up prematurely. After diving from that ledge, he knows that they would be able to be with each other. It’s his goodbye to guns, and welcome into a genuine lifestyle with Catherine. Henry had then to think about his alibi in order to mask his disappearance as a casualty in the war. He explains his comrade Piani will tell the Italians “they had shot me” and that he was “dead from wounds and other causes” (Hemingway 232). The “other causes” may be something to be overlooked while reading, but actually it tells of a much broader story of how one suffers in war. Even if one dies from bullet wounds, the traumatic mental anguish and grief, they suffer is enough to “kill” them. It may have been a hint to the readers, that death in warfare often goes deeper than just the physical
It was this bond between them, that kept either one wanting to live another day amidst the death and destruction of war. Henry recalls “I could remember Catherine but I knew I would get crazy if I thought about her when I was not sure yet I would see her, so I would not think about her, only about her a little” (Hemingway 231). In his world filled with destruction and victims fighting for survival, Catherine is the one he loves more than anything. He doesn’t ask much, only to spend time with her, as she already gives him everything he desires. Henry must refrain from even thinking about her as he may get his hopes up prematurely. After diving from that ledge, he knows that they would be able to be with each other. It’s his goodbye to guns, and welcome into a genuine lifestyle with Catherine. Henry had then to think about his alibi in order to mask his disappearance as a casualty in the war. He explains his comrade Piani will tell the Italians “they had shot me” and that he was “dead from wounds and other causes” (Hemingway 232). The “other causes” may be something to be overlooked while reading, but actually it tells of a much broader story of how one suffers in war. Even if one dies from bullet wounds, the traumatic mental anguish and grief, they suffer is enough to “kill” them. It may have been a hint to the readers, that death in warfare often goes deeper than just the physical