"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.