A Farewell to Arms

The mountains resist the war. Although fighting takes place in the mountains, Frederic much prefers the flatter grounds for fighting since it seems hopeless to achieve victory in the endless mountains; once you conquer one mountain, there’s always another mountain waiting that must be conquered. But once Frederic is with Catherine, the cold snow-capped mountains represent safety and comfort. When the snows come, Frederic and Catherine are sheltered in an idyllic home where they both find peace. There is nothing harsh about this snow. Instead, the snow seems brisk and refreshing, and they enjoy long walks on the hard-packed snow and ice.

Significantly, snow symbolizes peace as well since the fighting stops once the snows begins. Additionally, the priest suggested to Frederic that he take his leave in the snow-capped mountains of Abruzzi. Frederic doesn’t, and he regrets such a failure. He reflects that people do not always do what they want to do. Later, after leaving the war, he is able to seek solace in the mountains with Catherine prior to her death.

When Frederic takes the stars off his uniform to disguise his officer identity, it is only the beginning of the shedding of his military identity. When he is able to get a pair of civilian clothes from a friend, he quickly sheds his military uniform forever. But the new civilian clothes do not fit easily. He misses the feeling of being “held in” by his clothes. When he sees his reflection in the mirror, he does not recognize himself. He misses the military identity that clearly identified who he was, not only to others, but to himself. When he was a soldier on convalescent leave in Milan, an old man wanted to take his silhouette. He asks Frederic to remove his hat but Frederic refuses. The old man understands, saying that he understands Frederic wants a military look. The uniform gives Frederic an identity to hold on to. Once he loses that look, he is lost and unsure of what his occupation is. Only Catherine is able to provide meaning for him.

Frederic constantly reads newspapers to learn about the war. During his convalescent leave he is avid to learn what is happening on the front. Later, after he has deserted the army, he tries not to read them but eventually succumbs. The news is always delayed, as it is reported after the fact of battle. The action is already in the past and he is distant from it, not only in physical distance, but also in time.