A farewell to arms Essay Example for Free

A f atomic number 18well to arms EssayErnest Hemmingways A Farewell to gird is an examination of war, loyalty, desertion, love and detriment. His sweet tells the story of an American, Fredric henry, serving in the Italian army during World war I. Using a first person narrative we witness the horrors of war, the beauty of love, and the pain of loss. While the novel is fiction there are m whatever similarities to Hemmingways heart, which he uses as inspiration in his work. These experiences work substance to his tale of love in a beat of war. The story is broken into five books, separately covering a different aspect of narrative structure.The first book is an excellent example twist the exposition of a story, beginning with Lieutenant enthalpy describing the village where his unit is stationed. Through Henrys eyes Hemmingway describes the beauty of the village and the neighboring country berth. He also alludes to the impending conflict that is short to scourge the lan d, detailing the men and equipment that come through the streets. Book one also introduces love skirmish of the two central characters of the story Fredric Henry, an American serving as a Lieutenant with the Italian Army and Catherine Barkley, an slope working in the local hospital.Their relationship develops quickly further is just as quickly tested when Henry is severely injured in battle. Book Two continues to make up on the love affair between Henry and Catherine. After Henry is moved away from the front to an American hospital, where he is soon reunited Catherine and they resume their affair. Henry is faced with the not only major surgery and a long recovery, however also having to hide his relationship with Catherine. Elements of both Henry and Catherines personalities are fleshed out in great detail.Henry is a fairly aloof man. He does not care much for the war and he is not interested in the merits or the glory of war however he is a upright and dedicated soldier. Ca therine is very submissive toward Henry. She often gives control of the relationship to Henry, becoming almost co-dependent. As their time together increases Henry finds himself growing more and more dedicated to his relationship to Catherine. As the fall arrives Henry is faced with two new major complications he must return to the battle front and Catherine is instanter pregnant. Henry being a man of honor promises his love to Catherine and that we will not desert her.Henry moves onto the front where things will go from bad to worse. Henry is moved keystone to the front and he begins to watch out how the war has varyd not only the countryside but those around him as well. Because Henry is not Italian he does not feel the same sense of loyalty those around him feel and he begins to question his commerce to the war efforts. His summer with Catherine has given Henry a new outlook on life and a different cause to commit to. This adds to the rising conflict of the story as now Henr y is back in harms way and will soon see thing that will change his perception of war and his life and force him to make a choice that will change his life. The important crisis of the story is in Book Three.Not long after returning to the fight the Italian defenses are broken and the army is ordered to retreat. Henry must take his ambulances and drivers across the Italian country side to the rally point. As they trek through the ravaged landscape Henry begins to see the war as being hopeless and his thoughts move toward being with Catherine once again. During the retreat Henry is forced to kill some other soldier for not obey an order. He also sees as one of his men is killed by dandy Italian soldiers. These two events cause Henry to detach completely from his duties as an ships officer.The story reaches the climax as Henry is being separated from his men and about to be executed. No weeklong feeling any commitment to the cause and knowing that he will be shot simply for being an officer Henry decides to flee and start his new life with Catherine. After escaping execution and reuniting with Catherine, Henry realizes that he longer has any associations to the war in Italy and is dedicated only to Catherine. The couple makes their way into Switzerland to begin a life and await the birth of their child.It is in this time that the story takes a moment for pause, almost as a build up for one final crisis. It is nearly 300 AM and Catherine has started going into labor, and this is where the final crisis comes in to play. As Catherine goes through hours of intense labor, Henry can only stand by and watch. He prays to paragon for her safety. He prays for the safety of the one thing he holds dear. He asks for the protection of the center of his universe, Catherine.The baby is delivered quench born and Catherine dies shortly after. Henry says his final good byes to Catherine but they experience him no peace. He sees no purpose in their deaths, simply an event h e was powerless to stop. He is left with nothing but a walk back to the hotel in the rain, bringing the story to its conclusion. Hemmingways tale of war, love and loss carefully uses each book of his story to bring all the narrative elements into play. The first two books build the exposition and set up the rising action. He uses book three to set the final crisis and bring about the climax. Book Four brings the action down to set up for the tragic conclusion in Book Five.