Hemingway portrays the main character, Frederic Henry, as varying throughout the novel A Farewell to Arms. Hemingway portrays the character’s development, the struggles he experiences during the military conflict, and his death. Previously, Henry admired the army because he believed he would be safe. However, his perceptions of war caused him to truly hate war, spurring him to flee and stay with his spouse, Catherine. As he learns more about war, Henry’s point of view and attitude towards war dramatically changed. Changes take place in his identity and emotional responses due to his realization of the effect of the battle on his life.
During the war, Henry contends that the war has no significant effect on him because it is not occurring in his nation. As a result, he is uninterested in anything that is war-related. Nevertheless, this unconcernedness only lasted until the war took a toll on him and significantly altered his perspective on the war. The traumatizes Henry in the same way that it impacts everybody else. Once he becomes aware of the emotional trauma resulting from fighting, he becomes more conscious and aware of the battle. Henry discloses his name and changes his emphasis from prominence to singularity. It arises as he becomes the Italian army’s sole paramedics’ motorist. As a result, Henry becomes more involved and committed.
I learned to identify with numerous things and circumstances. Identifying with various people and situations is a transition that transpired to me as a result of being more caring and worried about the sentiments of other individuals, as well as acknowledging and applauding our discrepancies. These shifts enabled me to figure out how to make friends and exert control. I had to enhance my ability to connect to others in establishing a good relationship that allowed me to influence others positively.
Conclusion
Henry’s life and, most importantly, his viewpoint on the war changed radically. Throughout the book, his careless attitude toward the war degenerated. Nevertheless, unlike most other characters, Fredrick Henry’s shifting personality illustrates that he is developing. Positive developments, on the other hand, result in positive advancements in a person.
