Significance of the Title ‘A Farewell to Arms'

Significance of the Title ‘A Farewell to Arms'

A giant in the field of American literary modernism, Ernest Hemingway has long been called an important spokesman for the “lost generation” of disillusioned, war-torn young Americans. In ‘A Farewell to Arms’, Hemingway uses his characteristic unadorned prose, clipped dialogue, and understatement to convey an essentially cynical view of the world.

It is the title of the novel, A Farewell to Arms, itself that first catches the attention. Critics are basically in agreement that there are two straightforward interpretations of ‘A Farewell to Arms’, with a pun on the word 'Arms'. The hero, Fredrick Henry, bids farewell to 'arms', as in weapons, and also, when Catherine dies, to the loving 'arms' of a human being.

Hemingway consciously borrowed his title from the 16^th century English poet George Peele. He did refer to the Peele’s poem intentionally to pay ironic homage to the war. Since Frederic deserts the army during the retreat, and then flees with Catherine to Switzerland, the title can refer specifically to Frederic’s good-bye to the weapons of war. A Farewell to Arms could also refer to the loss of the loving arms of Catherine, as Fredrick was compelled to say  “a farewell” to them by the inevitable fate: death. Thus, on one hand, the farewell voluntary and almost calculated step, while on the other hand, the farewell is not at all, an act of volition.

The title “A farewell to Arms” puts Henry’s disillusionment with the war and love.War is made odious in the very first chapter which discloses the death of seven thousand men. Catherine’s fiancé has already been blown ‘all to bits’ in the battle. Henry himself gets wounded by mortar-shell in the war. War has affected the spirits of Rinaldi and priest as well. The climax of the horror is reached in the account of Caporetto retreat. The scene of the Italian army’s retreat remains one of the most profound evocations of war in American literature:

“In the night, many peasants had joined the column of retreating multitude, and in the column there were carts, loaded with household goods… On some carts women sat huddled from the rain and others walked besides the carts keeping as close to them as they could.

The inhumanity reached its climax when Henry was arrested by the battle-police. Officers were being shot after a summary trial. Ironically Henry comments, "The questioners had all the efficiency, coldness and command of themselves of Italians who are firing and are not being fired on." Henry made for the river and the shots rang after him. He took a support of a timber and drifted along with it. Having immersed in the river he was purified of all the sins. His “anger was washed away in the river along with any obligation." He was already through with the patriotism. He had suffered from exhaustion, hunger and fatigue. All his bravery had been evaporated. He escaped from Italy with his beloved into a neutral country -Switzerland. He had got "a separate peace."

Escaping from the war, what he could do was to turn to Catherine to find his medication. Only from Catherine, Henry was able to find his spiritual prop. But the reality of Catherine's death destroyed Henry's fantasy. Upon that moment, Henry came to realization that such positive forces as love and courage cannot neutralize the grim reality of life.

Already simplistic throughout the novel, Hemingway is even more taciturn on the subject of death. Indeed, the protagonist is indifferent to death.  As a result of seeing a great number of comrades falling on the battlefield, Henry has come to a crude conclusion about death: only the living counts, and mourning the dead is utterly futile. Shortly after the death of Passini, Henry remains unmoved by his death.  Similarly, the death of Aymo in the latter part of the novel is dealt with the same coldness. Ultimately, it is such a crude perception of death that prevents Henry from mourning the death of Catherine or harbour any funereal feeling. He bids farewell to the dead Catherine as he puts it:

 “It was like saying goodbye to a statue. After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.”

The title of the novel is the masterstroke of irony and one must think in terms of offering an ironic interpretation of the novel as well.

Fredrick has always tried to run away from the obligations and responsibilities of life. He did not want to fall in love and yet he fell in love with Catherine. He deserted the army in the hope of leading a idyllic life , yet Catherine’s  death at the end of novel suggests that he cannot escape harsh reality of death and sign a ‘separate peace’.  

One may conclude that the subliminal messages that fill ‘A Farewell to Arms’ make it an exceptional piece of art. It is ironic that whereas Peele’s knight is rooted in the war which he fights, his “duty, faith and love are evergreen”, Hemingway’s hero, on the other hand, casts his doubt upon such romantic ideals as glory and honor. He is “always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice.” He is disgusted with the war, serves his time and does everything he can, to run away from the perils of war.