Character Analysis Of Frederic Henry In A Farewell To Arms

War wages throughout the world as countries are locked in battles that will go down in history as some of the bloodiest, most costly, and longest lasting to have ever existed. In the midst of it all, a young American, trapped in Italy, joins the war that will forever change his life along with so many others. The events of A Farewell to Arms track this boy, named Frederic Henry, as he matures. Frederic Henry from A Farewell to Arms is a dynamic character that evolves from boy to man throughout the novel. Frederic Henry was a young American that moved to Italy in order to study architecture. During his stay, World War I began, and he joined the war because he “was in Italy and I [He] spoke Italian”. He became a lieutenant ambulance driver,

When he meets a young nurse, Catherine Barkley, who he claims to fall in love with, he is really only interested in the sexual aspects of their relationship, and he even stated to the reader he didn’t truly love her. Their discussions and his lack of love for the real Catherine demonstrate Henry’s immaturity. Catherine spoke with Henry of the war, and Henry simply said “let’s drop the war”, a statement that proves he hasn’t lived and matured enough to know the seriousness and looming threat of the war, especially to those involved in it. Henry is all about living in the moment, as he focuses on what Catherine’s body has to offer, rather than any potential plans or dangers in the

Henry not only witnessed death that day, but he also watched as a friend bled to death in agony. Watching a man and a close friend die are events that would cause anyone to mature quickly, as they realize the reality of war and how easy life is to lose. We see the first hint of Henry’s maturing when he asks for other, more seriously wounded soldiers, to be cared for first, and ignores his own need for medical attention. Following this, he watches another man die, the blood of the man dripping down onto Henry in a full ambulance. Any innocence Henry might have had was lost in the Austrians’ attack on the Italians. Rinaldi, a close friend of Henry, visits him following the injury. Rinaldi is hard stuck on the idea that Henry should be honored with medals and glory for being injured, a bragging point for any young, immature boy looking for recognition. However, Henry outright refuses even deserving a medal, stating he has done nothing to deserve such a thing. He has matured beyond desiring any false recognition or