Essay, Research Paper
In Ernest Hemingway s A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway shows Frederick Henry s
progression into a code hero. Frederick Henry achieved many code hero characteristics by
the end of the novel with the help of Catherine, a code hero herself. All the characteristics
seem to follow the path of a person with masculine characteristics who is continuously
striving to live his/her life to the fullest. Throughout the novel, Frederick Henry’s behavior
matures into one of a code hero through various stages, including giving in to sensual
pleasures, having trouble sleeping, finding a sense of love and commitment, and
recognizing death s role in life.
In the start of the novel, Frederick Henry immersed himself into the sensual
pleasures that surrounded him. Henry “had drunk much wine”, and had aimlessly
wondered from woman to woman in Book one of the novel. He had no self-control to
contain himself from the brothels during this time. He drank heavily on a regular basis, yet
he was never a sloppy drunk, and could hold his liquor very well. Henry enjoys the food
he ate, the love he made, and the wine he drank whenever he felt the desire to, as a code
hero often does. He could not learn to control himself until he had developed a
relationship with Catherine. By receiving the support and confidence from her, he was able
to change. Henry finally disciplined himself near the end of his stay at the Ospidale
Maggoire.
Henry had also always had trouble sleeping as many of the code heroes do in a
Hemingway novel. Henry could not sleep during the night because the night was a
representation of death to him. Death to Henry was the end of all things because he did
not believe in any sort of after-life. If he did not sleep, he could avoid having to deal with
this immense fear. As their relationship develops, Henry was often accompanied by
Catherine during the nights at the Ospidale Maggoire. Henry once said to Catherine, who
was already an established code hero, “There was almost no difference in the night except
that is was an even better time.”(pg.138) Henry sleeps all day long, in order to stay u
night. Unfortunately, Catherine eventually had to go back to working during the day,
instead of working the night shift, and stopped spending her nights with him. Henry is left
to stay up alone all night. He shows a great change of character when he does not ask
Catherine to come stay with him, thus controlling his desires to be with her physically.
From this point of the book, Henry shows he is able to discipline himself. Although Henry
did not believe in the institution of marriage, he was extremely loyal and committed to
Catherine. When he is first introduced to her, he discovers a capacity for love that he had
deep within himself. This begins the process of development when he transfers his love
and loyalty to Catherine, and deserts the Italian Army. Although most men in this time
period would marry a woman if they got her pregnant, Henry did not marry Catherine
when he found out she was pregnant. He was not a traditional man, but he was definitely a
loyal one.
Also, Henry never once talked about his beliefs or feelings throughout the novel.
He does not talk about his hatred for the Carabinieri or his feelings when he was cheerful
or downhearted. He showed no signs of remorse for deserting the Italian army.
In the end of the novel, Henry is faced with his love’s death. Henry told God,
“Don t let her die. Oh, God, please don t let her die. I ll do anything you want if you don t
let her die. Please, please, please, God, don t let her die.”(pg.330) the moment before he
entered the door where Catherine finally passed away due to a hemorrhage. He asked God
to save his greatest love after taking his child, and does not receive an answer.
Hemingway s code hero, Frederick Henry, evolutionizes into a man whom the
reader could identify with and understand. Henry unknowingly becomes a code hero, and
a better person with the help of Catherine. Henry becomes a code hero in the end due to
the help of many incidents. He concludes that death is the end, and when it gets you, there
is no where to go. Henry never becomes a true code hero until the end when he accepts
death as the end of existence.