The Anti-War Novel

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Written just after the first global war, Hemingway delivers a subtle anti-war novel. World War I ended in 1918; A Farewell to Arms was published eleven years later. Although eleven years seems as if it would be enough time to forget, no time span can allow Hemingway to forget the effects of World War I. After World War I, Hemingway is struck with countless nightmares. Hemingway uses these nightmares and flashbacks to write A Farewell to Arms (Analysis 1). When reflecting on the novel, a blogger writes, “A Farewell to Arms is a war novel, not in the sense that it glorifies the war, but as all know, it describes the cruelty, madness of the war which deprives human life and happiness” (Analysis 1). During the novel, Hemingway displays his anti-war message by showing how the characters indulge in distractions to escape the reality of war. Love and sex, alcohol, and religion are all ways characters distracted themselves.
In A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway uses love and sex as the anchor for his anti-war message. Love and sex is the strongest element Hemingway uses. Love and sexual encounters were the biggest way Hemingway’s characters distract themselves. Although love is usually a special moment of life, Hemingway displays how war creates heart-breaking relationships throughout the novel. In the beginning, both Henry and Rinaldi visit numerous whorehouses. They spend their days flirting with meaningless women (aesundstrom 1). All of the men carry on many mindless relationships with women. Even the priest is teased about being with numerous women at one time. At dinner the men aggravate him on and on about his love for multiple women. Later on, Henry and Rinaldi begin a harmless flirtation with a few nurses. Catherine is one of the nur...

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... do is pray. As many character's last resort they rely on God.
World War I leaves many writers with many painful thoughts. Hemingway uses these horrific flashbacks to write a great anti-war novel. In combination with his anti-war views, Hemingway includes his views on alcohol and religion to strengthen his novel. To create his novel, Hemingway makes his characters indulge in many distractions to survive the war. In A Farewell to Arms, characters use love, alcohol, and false religion to distract themselves.

Works Cited aesundstrom. A Farewell to Arms. Edublogs, 29 May 2008. Web. 1 Mar. 2014.
Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Scribner, 1929. Print.
Kershaw, Tom. The Religion and Political Views of Ernest Hemingway. Hollowverse, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 April, 2014.
The Analysis on Anti-war Theme in A Farewell to Arms. Predoc, 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2014.

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