In A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, love is explored
and described in an interesting way. Specifically, the concept of growing love.
Frederic Henry, the protagonist and narrator of this modern novel, is virtually
alone in Italy, with no family and only one close friend mentioned before he
meets Catherine Barkley. But through the course of the novel, his relationship
with Catherine intensifies to a level much deeper than what he had originally
intended.
When Henry first meets Catherine, he notices her beauty right away. However, it wasn't what many would call "love at first sight." For a while during the spring they enjoyed each other's company, but both of them had the wrong reasons. Henry saw her as a relief from the grim reality of war, a temporary distraction, and pounced. Catherine was looking for comfort and solace because of the death of her long-time fiancé, and submitted. It is not until Henry is wounded and alone in a hospital bed in Milan that he realizes he truly loved her. He confesses: "when I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me" (91). His feelings for Catherine become more than just a distraction: they are undeniably real. His affection is reciprocated by Catherine, who admits "I get furious if they touch you" (103), with "them" referring to the other nurses in the ward taking care of Henry. A transparent love would not be bothered by jealousy, so Catherine's disapproval reveals just how much Henry means to her. Their love also grows physically: the first night Catherine visits is the first time the couple makes love. This act creates a bond between them that strengthens their mutual affection: Catherine asks "now do you believe I love you?" and Henry exclaims "I'm crazy in love with you" (92). Catherine and Henry's relationship became more than what either of them ever expected it to be: real love.
When Henry first meets Catherine, he notices her beauty right away. However, it wasn't what many would call "love at first sight." For a while during the spring they enjoyed each other's company, but both of them had the wrong reasons. Henry saw her as a relief from the grim reality of war, a temporary distraction, and pounced. Catherine was looking for comfort and solace because of the death of her long-time fiancé, and submitted. It is not until Henry is wounded and alone in a hospital bed in Milan that he realizes he truly loved her. He confesses: "when I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me" (91). His feelings for Catherine become more than just a distraction: they are undeniably real. His affection is reciprocated by Catherine, who admits "I get furious if they touch you" (103), with "them" referring to the other nurses in the ward taking care of Henry. A transparent love would not be bothered by jealousy, so Catherine's disapproval reveals just how much Henry means to her. Their love also grows physically: the first night Catherine visits is the first time the couple makes love. This act creates a bond between them that strengthens their mutual affection: Catherine asks "now do you believe I love you?" and Henry exclaims "I'm crazy in love with you" (92). Catherine and Henry's relationship became more than what either of them ever expected it to be: real love.
In Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, what
started as a mutual companionship blossomed into a fiery romance, thus
exemplifying the theme of the possibility of growing passion.
I agree with your statements of how Henry is alone during the war and seeks out a companion to keep him company because Catherine is his distraction from the grim reality of the war. The same is for Catherine that Henry is her distraction because she is just getting over her dead fiancé. I do think that they have feelings for each other during Henry's hospitalization but their love man not is a true love. This is only because the reason why they are together is due to the war. Overall I agree the majority of your statements of Catherine and Henry's relationship.
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