Heroism Portrayed In A Farewell To Arms 

Merriam-Webster defines the word heroism as “heroic conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end” (“Heroism”). However, Ernest Hemingway provides his own idea of heroism in what is called the “Hemingway Code”. This guide includes many different character traits. Hemingway portrays the world and the traditional beliefs in it as crooked and fraudulent. The traits that the Hemingway Code entails act as a guide in a world where the norm has seemed to cause it to be drastically affected in the worst way. Hemingway’s novel “A Farewell to Arms” has numerous examples of characters who possess the different traits that make them “Hemingway Heroes”. The reader may understand the “Hemingway Code” better when the characters in “A Farewell to Arms” and their actions are examined. Some characters who are good examples of “Hemingway Heroes” are Frederic Henry, Catherine Barkley, and Rinaldi.

“A Farewell to Arms” is set in Italy during World War I. The narrator, Lieutenant Frederic Henry, is an American who drives an ambulance in the Italian army. Catherine Barkley is an English V. A. D. (nurse) for the Italian army. Rinaldi is an Italian surgeon in the Italian army. Frederic Henry and Rinaldi become good friends throughout the novel, while Catherine and Frederic Henry begin to fall in love. The budding romance between the two does not agree with the time. Catherine ends up becoming pregnant outside of marriage, which is not something celebrated at this point in time. Throughout the novel, Hemingway challenges the traditional beliefs of the world through the actions of his characters.

One character who is a good example of a “Hemingway Hero” is Catherine. A trait she possesses is that she is devoted to her own thoughts and beliefs throughout the novel. At one point in the story, Frederic Henry becomes concerned about what would happen to Catherine if he were to die or they were to become permanently separated. This concern prompts him to propose marriage to Catherine. In chapter 18 she responds by saying, “There’s no way to be married except by the church or state. We are married privately. You see, darling, it would mean everything to me if I had any religion. But I haven’t any religion” (104). Although Frederic Henry and Catherine’s relationship circumstances were probably frowned upon at the time, Catherine doesn’t care about the thoughts of others. She only cares about how she feels about it, and the effects that marriage might result in. The situation doesn’t bother her because she claims to have no religion. She also thinks that if they were to get married, she would be sent away from the front. All she wants is to be with Frederic Henry. She stays loyal to herself despite the judgement she might receive from others and the expectations of that day. Catherine also exhibits the heroic trait of being courageous in frightening times. One example of this was when she told Frederic Henry that she was pregnant. She said, “I’m going to have a baby, darling. It’s almost three months along. You’re not worried, are you? Please please don’t. You mustn’t worry” (124). In this situation, she seems more worried about Frederic Henry’s reaction than the position she is in. The fact that she kept it to herself for three months is crazy, too. That shows incredible courage in itself. These traits that Catherine embodies allows the reader to see how she aligns with the definition of a “Hemingway Hero”.

Another character who represents the “Hemingway Code” well is Frederic Henry. One characteristic that can be observed of him is that he tends to live in the moment. While the Italian army is retreating, officers who are separated from their troops are being pulled off to the side. Frederic Henry is one pulled to the side. Once he realizes that every man who was pulled out of the line is being shot, he knows he can’t just willfully be led to his death. When he sees an opportunity to run, he takes it. He tells of his escape saying, “I ducked down, pushed between two men, and ran for the river, my head down, I tripped at the edge and went in with a splash” (200). Frederic Henry loses respect for the Italian army when he sees officials killing their own troops. He no longer feels committed to the Italians after this horrific action. So, in response, he doesn’t think about consequences or worry that he won’t make it, he just runs. His ability to act in the moment is the thing that saved his life. Another trait that Frederic Henry embodies is that he is loyal to the people around him rather than the army. When he returns to the front after his injury, he mentions Catherine multiple times. He even dreams of her. At some point, Frederic Henry and another ambulance driver get stuck in traffic on the way to Udine. They decide to take a nap, and Henry tells about his dream. He says “Christ, that my love were in my arms and I in bed again. That my love Catherine. That my sweet love Catherine down might rain. Blow her again to me… ‘Good-night, Catherine,’ I said out loud. ‘I hope you sleep well. If it’s too uncomfortable, darling, lie on the other side,’ I said” (176). She is probably on his mind frequently and the reader can tell that he can’t wait to get back to her. When he deserts the Italian army, he embarks on a journey to find Catherine. This shows his loyalty to the woman he loves rather than to Italy. Frederic Henry is a great example of a “Hemingway Hero”, and this is easily realized once his characteristics are examined.

An additional character that follows the guide of a “Hemingway Hero” is Rinaldi. One heroic trait he possesses is that he applies his whole self in his job and is exceptional at it. Rinaldi is a very good surgeon who loves what he does. He takes joy in his job and takes pride in improving. When Rinaldi is filling in Frederic Henry on everything that happened while he had been gone, he talks about himself for a little bit. Rinaldi says, “All summer and all fall I’ve operated. I work all the time. I do everybody’s work. All the hard ones they leave to me. By God, baby, I am becoming a lovely surgeon” (150). From this, the reader can tell that Rinaldi really cares about his job. Apparently, he has improved quite a bit. A little later Rinaldi says, “But now, baby, it’s all over. I don’t operate now and I feel like hell” (151). From Rinaldi’s statement, it is obvious how passionate he is about surgery. It seems as if that is the one thing he cares about. Another trait that Rinaldi demonstrates is that he never took himself too seriously and he always had a sense of humor. Whenever Rinaldi speaks in the book, he is often telling a joke. At the beginning of the story when Rinaldi is interested in Catherine, he asks Frederic Henry for some money. Rinaldi says, “I must make on Miss Barkley the impression of a man of sufficient wealth. You are my great and good friend and financial protector” (12). Here, Rinaldi is making the situation more humorous by making fun of his financial situation and the way he says he wants Catherine to view him. Later in the story, after Frederic Henry is wounded and Rinaldi comes to see him in the hospital, Rinaldi shows his humorous side again. They begin to speak about the priest. Frederic Henry says, “I like him. ” Rinaldi replies, “Oh, I knew it. Sometimes I think you and he are a little that way. You know” (61). Here, Rinaldi is lightening up the situation by teasing Frederic Henry. I think Frederic Henry might appreciate this due to the fact that he is in a hospital bed without being able to get up. One can imagine that this situation could be very depressing, so Rinaldi’s effort to lighten Frederic Henry’s spirit was surely appreciated. Rinaldi is one more who is a good example of a “Hemingway Hero”.

In “A Farewell to Arms” Ernest Hemingway sets a standard for heroism. This standard, called the “Hemingway Code”, defines what it means to be a hero according to Ernest Hemingway. He saw the world as cruel and contradicting as a result of the traditional beliefs that were observed in that day. By creating this standard for a new kind of hero, Hemingway replaces what the world has seemed to allow to disappear. In his novel, Hemingway shows how these heroic characteristics can be embodied. He uses many characters from his book to give the reader a good idea of what a “Hemingway Hero” is like. Frederic Henry, Catherine Barkley, and Rinaldi are prime examples of this view of a hero. The lives of these characters give the reader a glimpse of what Hemingway saw to be a true hero.