Catherine's Weakness to Frederic in A Farewell to Arms

Men are seen continually oppressing women throughout history because of the belief that women are weak and naïve. The oppression can be viewed in different cultures that practiced the maltreatment of women such as China, India, Europe, and even America. For example, in 17^th century China, women’s feet were bound because men thought that smaller feet were more beautiful. These women had to walk with canes and were in much pain most of their lives. This was a way that men executed their dominance over the women. In A Farewell to Arms, we are taken to Italy where we get a firsthand look on how men treated their women and how the main female role, Catherine, is depicted as the ultimate female character. Hemingway critiques the way women were viewed during this time by allowing Catherine to be the typical negative stereotype of a woman during World War I.

One critic, Judity Fetterley, writes in her interpretation of the treatment of women (‘A Farewell to Arms’: Hemingway’s “Resentful Cryptogram”), that Hemingway is allowing Frederic Henry to view himself as superior to women, in particular, superior to Catherine. Catherine succumbs to Frederic by letting him use her for his own selfish reasons. He uses her by making her work nights at the hospital when he is injured so that she might stay with him and keep him comforted, even though she worked all day as well. His lack of concern for her sleep deprivation illustrates that he is a character who knows that he is superior to women and that they should do whatever is necessary to please him. Catherine does not do argue with Frederic but goes with his demands which makes her seem weak. Fetterley also mentions how that Italian culture as a whole views women. She determines this by using A Farewell to Arms characters like the doctors and Frederic’s friend, Rinaldi. The doctors treat the women by only valuing their looks and their ability to produce a male. Rinaldi also exhibits a similar behavior by asking Henry inappropriate questions about his and Catherine’s intimate relationship. These Italian men in the book only see women for what they can offer to the man which creates the male dominance over the weak, insignificant women

Another critic, Sandra Spanier, disagrees with Fetterley’s position that Catherine is a weak stereotypical female character. Spanier views Catherine as strong and an essential role to Frederic Henry’s life. According to Spanier, Catherine is a “code-hero” which means that she was part of Frederic Henry’s education because she has already had her own difficulties. Although, it is true that Catherine has had her own troubles throughout her life, Spanier is clearly lacking the fact that Catherine is willing to just go with Frederic Henry and is allowing him to control her for his own benefit which proves that Catherine is not stronger from her obstacles. Also, Frederic Henry already has the notion that he knows all and is superior; therefore, Catherine does not make much of a difference in Frederic Henry’s education. The flaw is shown because Henry does not change his views on women at the end of the book. He loves Catherine for her beauty and still feels it when she dies. It is still seen as her fault that she has died. Henry does not grow as a person or as a character throughout the novel.

The superiority men have over women is seen throughout time as a part of the culture, and not necessary to present to modern day oppressions. It is still seen today that men make more money than women do at the same job. This discrimination against women may not ever go away however we can still make it known by viewing characters like Catherine who are weak and subservient to their superior male counterparts.

"Sweet and Low" goes the wind for Catherine

The poem “Sweet and Low” by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a lullaby designed to comfort and soothe the listener. The main subject of this poem is about a woman who is longing for her lover, therefore, she speaks to nature and the “wind of the western sea” to plead it to bring her love home. In the meantime, she is desperately trying to comfort herself along with her baby where she repeats patterns and rhythms. This form allows for the poem to seem simple in order to give the reader a sense of comfort and understanding. The simplicity shows a simple idea of how she is longing for her love, who we could infer is out at war. Understanding can be seen from this simple pattern because it sounds like it should be said to a child. For example, when parents tell lullabies to their children, the simple words and flow soothes the child to sleep. The same idea applies for this poem although its main subject is the woman who is missing for her love. The woman also talks to her baby as she urges it to go to sleep. She wants to comfort it just as much as she cares to soothe her own thoughts and emotions. The most accurate way for her to see that the baby is completely comforted is for it to fall asleep.

Now, what does this so called lullaby have to do with the novel A Farewell to Arms? Hemingway alludes to multiple poems in his novel including “Sweet and Low;” in A Farewell to Arms, he uses this poem when revealing Frederic Henry’s innermost thoughts while he is on the retreat in Italy. He allows Frederic to dream about Catherine’s wellbeing while exhibiting his absolute love for her. On page 197, Hemingway uses a passage to allow Frederic to take a break from the wartime to fantasize and wonder about Catherine. Towards the end of the passage, the poem comes in to reveal his thoughts wandering in the direction of Catherine. He compares his uncomfortable situation to Catherine in her bed “between two sheets” (197). This statement introduces his thoughts of Catherine. This part of the novel takes away from the immediate action going on in the novel to add depth to the devotion Frederic has to Catherine. In order to really pursue this goal, he alludes to the poem discussed when Frederic dreams to himself, “blow her again to me” (197). In the actual poem (“Sweet and Low”), the poet states “blow him again to me.” One should take notice of the change in pronouns. In this case, Frederic is made the speaker longing for his lover. He is caught in a difficult time during the retreat and instead thinks about Catherine. (Side note: I think that he is having a more difficult time being away from Catherine than most guys would be when they are away from their girlfriends.) He longs to be with her therefore he tries to comfort himself as the speaker in “Sweet and Low” attempts to do. However, instead of comforting a baby as well, he thinks to comfort Catherine. Even though she cannot hear him the emphasis of his care for her is still present throughout this section. Frederic shows concern for Catherine’s comfort by trying to get her fall asleep. He begs her to lie on another side in case she is not comfortable. He also shows more concern for her than for the child she is carrying when he states, “I’m sorry he makes you so uncomfortable” (197). This part of the passage suggests that he is talking about the baby she is carrying. His love for her is so great that it surpasses their unborn child.

Seasonal Changes

Ernest Hemingway does an excellent job in using the seasons to provoke the type of tone he wants to portray throughout the classic novel, A Farewell to Arms. He uses the summer season in Book 2 of the novel to romanticize Catherine and Frederic's love in during their time together while Frederic is in the hospital. On page 112, Hemingway really romanticizes the whole feel of the summer and also Frederic and Catherine’s relationship. This is passage is almost too fantasy like by using they descriptions of what Catherine and Frederic do such as: riding a carriage in the park and going to romantic dinners (blah blah blah).  Many girls in the modern era think about a perfect romantic setting with carriage rides and candlelit dinners during summer months when there are few worries. He uses these common romantic notions to describe Catherine and Frederic’s love. Summer is often characterized to show youthfulness and excitement which gives their love a new and young feel. Using Frederic’s thoughts he says, “If we let our hands touch…we were excited” (112).  Frederic and Catherine are acting as adolescents in this passage because of the excitement they get when they show a little bit of affection and intimateness (a little childish and ridiculous if you ask me). They act as if there is not a war going on and that their love is the only thing that matters.

A main part of the book is the big retreat from the Austrians that Frederic and his fellow army men take during the end of October. The atmosphere of this fall in Italy is rainy and muddy to cause a very dramatized melancholy mood. This is depicted after Frederic and his mates have broken down their ambulances and left the main part of the group; he says that “along the river bank there was nothing and no one but the wet brush and muddy ground” (207). This shows the uncleanliness of the conditions they are walking in and the continuous draining of their moods (because mud is icky!).  One can tell that the men on this retreat are starting to get worn down by the long walk to Udine. Then, Frederic says that “finally we saw the railway bridge” (207). This is slight hope that getting through this retreat is a real possibility. With all of his mates still alive (excluding the two sergeants that Frederic shot—but they don’t count cause they weren’t his friends), things are beginning to look up until they eventually see the German soldiers on the bridge.  As you can see, the season of fall gives more of an impact on the reading of this passage than most would believe.