Symbolisms in Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms (Essay Sample)

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Symbolisms in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms
Farewell to Arms is a novel written by Ernest Hemingway at a period described by the World War I. this novel depicts various literary aspects of literature. Therefore, symbolism stands out as one of these core literary features in the novel by Hemingway. It is imperative to note that the author of the story tries to describe the unvarnished truth regarding war. This is through presenting a sincere, rather than a heroic and combat account on the ways the soldiers endure as they fight during the war. On the contrary, his realistic approach his not hindered by his use of various literary devices. Therefore, Hemingway uses symbolism as a literary device to give a full account of the events during the War.
For instance, weather is a core aspect of the war experience and the author depicts in this novel realistically through the use of symbolism. Rain is perceived as the fundamental aspect of life and growth, however, Hemingway uses symbolically in this novel to explain the element of death with the snow symbolizing hope. Therefore, Hemingway uses the accounts to explain how the soldiers carried out their mission during the war and the various challenges that they faced through symbolism. All in all, he passes the information to his audience in a realistic manner. In chapter II of the novel, the snows end the fighting that is explained at the beginning. Thus snow stands as a form of safety rather than the expected danger they could pose to the soldiers. In addition, Fredric Henry explains that the priest`s home area as "place where the roads were frozen and hard as iron, where it was clear and cold and dry and the snow was dry and powdery . . . ," (Hemingway 8). This is a positive characterization depicting the significance that the ice could finally bring.
In addition, rain is continuously used in this novel as one of the major aspects of symbolism. For instance, the battle turns and there is a retreat established by the Italians from Caporetto including the Germans who have coupled into the fight. One evening the rains turn into snow and this holds the hope of Henry`s troop that there is going to be a back down by the offensive. However, the snow melts soon and the rain resumes as the driver named Aymo denotes that "To-morrow maybe we drink rainwater" (Hemingway 91). This is symbolically used by Hemingway for the audience to get a genuine sense regarding foreboding. Therefore, there are various instances of both rain and snow within the novel that depict the aspects of death and hope, respectively. The characters are led by the fact that war is an activity that is looming in the area while the rains and snow are aspects that are incorporated in the setting to explain the conditions they are enduring.
Moreover, it is imperative to note that much of the author`s symbolism explains the tragic love in the novel with regard to Fredric Henry. Henry is an ambulance driver who operates under the Italian Army with Catherine. The symbolism depicted here is the officer`s stars. Thus the stars that are evident on the officer`s sleeves explains duty and competence. For instance, "There was a star in a box on his sleeve because he was a major" (Hemingway 104). On the other hand, when the individual leaves the army he approaches removing the stars from his sleeves as a means of clearing his identity.
Another instance within Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms describes symbolism in the relationship between Henry and Catherine. For instance, as they endure their love, Henry loves to see her lover`s hair down so that it looks "inside a tent or behind a falls" (Hemingway 72). This is depicts that Henry wants to hide in Catherine from the various challenges he is facing. In addition, Henry feels that he is isolated with her from the entire world because she provides a comfort place. This is why he watches Catherine done in one of the beauty shops and Catherine also suggest that he grows his hair and beards long. "No, let it grow a little longer and I could cut mine and we'd be just alike only one of us blonde and one of us dark" (Hemingway 74). This also suggests the notion of hiding from the world that is filled with war and violence during this period.
Catherine`s hair also stands as an element of symbolism because it is a constant reminder to Henry about his enclosure inside a tent of a waterfall. This is a description that also explains the lovers` isolation from world despite the war that is surrounding them. Moreover, they manage to approach a blissful privacy believing that they are protected by an absurd idea of the hair. However, they learn the harsh experience of love when they are away from the ravages of war. Therefore, Christine’s hair is symbolically used in order to form as an aspect of to the characters as they endure suffering and challenging period of war.
The change of seasons throughout the novel is used symbolically by Hemingway to explain the changing nature of life. this also accounts life`s temporal qualities, just like those of love. Therefore, Hemingway uses the changing seasons apparently to explain that life is changing with factors such as war, violence, love, and hatred being depicted as some of these elements of life. In addition, the seasons in the novel presented by Hemingway include rain season, snow, and sunny periods that explain the writer`s use of symbolism.
In addition, Hemingway denotes that “at the start of the winter came the permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera” (Hemingway 4). The rain represents death with snow representing hope for the soldiers who are fighting in the war. Both Catherine and Henry look for security in the Alps of the Swiss as purity of snow surrounds them. This is the reason why she tells Henry while they are in Milan that "I'm afraid of the rain because sometimes I see myself dead in it...And sometimes I see you dead in it” (Hemingway 134). Thus the story is developed in this scene on symbolism as the characters are in despair depicting the rain to symbolize death. Moreover, Henry and Catherine are portrayed to be the main characters that are subjected to this symbolism at in this scene. Therefore, the audience is able to describe the use of symbolism by Hemingway to represent both death and hope.
Illusions and fantasies are aspects that describe the use of symbolism in the Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. For instance, upon meeting the two lovers, Catherine and Henry are set on a grand illusion of love and comfort. This is symbolically used by Hemingway to describe the significance of the two individuals for each other during this period. It also signifies hope and optimism during the period of war. It is imperative to note that Catherine seeks consolation for the death of Henry as Henry seeks doing anything to ensure that he evades the war. This constantly reminds us of the love the two individuals have for each other during this period, and further accounts for hope. With Catherine sending Henry away every time that she plays her will claiming that their love is a game, it symbolically depicts the will to endure through the hardship of war because Henry does not give up.
Catherine emerges as an element of comfort and distraction of the unpleasantness of the world to Henry. This is through the various ways that Henry perceives her. For instance, through her hair she finds hope and her love sustains him throughout the war. In addition, the two characters, Henry and Catherine are a symbol of what the war entailed durin...