What is the motivation of the main character/narrator, Frederic Henry in A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway? To determine what Henry’s motivation is, we might first want to determine what kind of person he is and what kind of person he becomes throughout the story. After all, this is a story about Fredric Henry falling into love with Cathrine Barkley, and who Henry becomes as a result. Although, what motivates him does seems to change a little, as he learns what things are important to him. As we start this book the narrator tells us very little about himself, or even where is.
Hell, it takes the first few chapters before we even know his name. Nevertheless, we are able to learn quite a lot about him.
For instance, towards the beginning …show more content…
Shortly after telling Catherine Barkley he loved her, he tells us “I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards. Like in bridge you had to pretend you were playing for money or playing for some kind of stakes. Nobody had mentioned what the stakes were.” A couple of things are going on here, one of which is, we learn Henry has no problem with lying (given does it with no remorse now and later in the book). More than just being ok with lying, he sees it all as a game and has no care for what the stakes are. This leads you to believe he has a fatalistic view of life and no real purpose or …show more content…
Even though he is a man believed to be without faith. When everyone is making fun of the priest, Henry does not participate in that. Not because he is a man of faith, but conceivably because he sees and respects the faith of the priest. There are many examples of Henry’s altruistic characteristics. After being wounded in war and attempting to let others be transported to the hospital first, Henry was troubled by the idea of receiving a medal. (He fails to see his action as heroic) Yet he is in the war, Lieutenant in charge of ambulances.
Over the course of the story Henry does fall in love with Barkley. Then the retreat happened. After spending the whole time of his recovery with Barkley. During this time he see how much she cares; then realizes how his life with her could be so much more meaning full than booze and brothels. With that, on top of finding out she is pregnant; he realized love was more important than war. He wanted to run away with Barkley. Henry proceeds to desert the army to be with
Hell, it takes the first few chapters before we even know his name. Nevertheless, we are able to learn quite a lot about him.
For instance, towards the beginning …show more content…
Shortly after telling Catherine Barkley he loved her, he tells us “I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards. Like in bridge you had to pretend you were playing for money or playing for some kind of stakes. Nobody had mentioned what the stakes were.” A couple of things are going on here, one of which is, we learn Henry has no problem with lying (given does it with no remorse now and later in the book). More than just being ok with lying, he sees it all as a game and has no care for what the stakes are. This leads you to believe he has a fatalistic view of life and no real purpose or …show more content…
Even though he is a man believed to be without faith. When everyone is making fun of the priest, Henry does not participate in that. Not because he is a man of faith, but conceivably because he sees and respects the faith of the priest. There are many examples of Henry’s altruistic characteristics. After being wounded in war and attempting to let others be transported to the hospital first, Henry was troubled by the idea of receiving a medal. (He fails to see his action as heroic) Yet he is in the war, Lieutenant in charge of ambulances.
Over the course of the story Henry does fall in love with Barkley. Then the retreat happened. After spending the whole time of his recovery with Barkley. During this time he see how much she cares; then realizes how his life with her could be so much more meaning full than booze and brothels. With that, on top of finding out she is pregnant; he realized love was more important than war. He wanted to run away with Barkley. Henry proceeds to desert the army to be with