IndexHemingway's style in showing the power of warThe birth of Henry and Catherine's son as the final source of ironyWorks Cited:In 1929, Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms . In this era there were many books focused on the Great War. Percy Hutchinson, a contemporary writer for the New York Times, predicted that Hemingway's book "must be classified; it belongs on the increasingly crowded shelf of war novels." While many other authors, however, focused on the courage and sacrifices of war, Hemingway wrote his novel from a different perspective. Hemingway broke away from the norm and instead used literary forms to shed light on different aspects of the war. Hemingway's use of irony in A Farewell to Arms provides valuable insight into the reality of war, from the perspective of an apathetic soldier. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Frederic Henry, the main character of Hemingway's story, is an enigma. His dialogue and actions constantly contradict each other and he often finds himself in surprising situations. For example, Henry seems to pay little attention to the Italian army or even the war itself. He carries himself casually, yet he volunteered to be in his current situation. The audience would expect a volunteer to be hard-working and dedicated, but it seems Henry is only there for the booze and the women. This contradiction is even more unusual when considering his role in the military. Henry was an officer in the ambulance corps. He was responsible for the wounded and wounded on the battlefield. Besides this obvious role, ambulances played a larger role in the war. Moss and Wilson clarify: "The immediate and effective evacuation of the wounded not only prevented the permanent loss of battle duty of many soldiers, but also aided the morale of those who remained to fight." More than a medical taxi service, the ambulances served as a beacon of hope and faith for the men on the front lines. Henry obviously played an important role in the war, but still seemed indifferent to the events around him. Henry and Catherine begin an affair, and at one point in the novel, Catherine gives Henry a St. Anthony medal to protect him while he is at war. on the battlefield. Not long after, Henry is wounded while in the trenches. Despite Catherine's attempts to keep Henry safe, he is still injured. Even in the midst of this debilitating injury, however, Henry still can't take the situation seriously. He jokes with his doctors about the possibility of amputating his leg so it can be replaced with a hook. Usually, people react to near-death experiences with a somber and serious attitude. Henry's attitude is the exact opposite of what the audience would expect in this type of situation. Dodman speculates that there is more to Henry's manner than indifference. He writes that "his perceptions of his wounded experience highlight the passivity and helplessness of his situation." It is likely that Henry's attitude was a mental defense mechanism against the horrors of his current environment. His apathy wasn't just created to contrast the seriousness of the world around him. After becoming involved with Catherine, Henry is all too eager to escape the war he volunteered for. This change of heart initially seems extreme: after all, he fought in the war by choice, not a draft. As demonstrated, however, Henry had no real, personal interest in the war, regardlessfrom the important role it played. He and Catherine showed some semblance of guilt and responsibility, but rejected their feelings of remorse. They justified their abandonment by rationalizing that it was only the Italian army. Their blasé attitude, however, does not sit well with audiences, giving the impression that there is more than meets the eye. In her article, Heather Lansdown speculates, "Henry's need to escape the cruel reality of war in A Farewell to Arms also describes his need to escape the cruel reality of life." There is some truth in this intuition. After Henry's knee was injured, he discovered what it would be like to be with Catherine, without the backdrop of war. It is entirely plausible that after this little glimpse of “what if,” Henry looked for any excuse to remove him from the war. Fleeing the war, he also escaped the sight of bloodied and wounded soldiers. Catherine has escaped the memory of her fiancé's death. By underestimating Henry and Catherine's reactions to abandoning the war, Hemingway emphasizes the great impact of their action. Hemingway's style of showing the power of war Hemingway is known for his distinct style. Cynthia Giles writes: “He always stressed the importance of providing 'facts' and allowing readers to fill in the emotions. By selecting just the right facts and then presenting them with apparent objectivity, Hemingway's narrators often frame events to create a camera-like effect. The Hemingway effect in A Farewell to Arms is evident in some of the ironic situations Henry finds himself in. At the beginning of the story, Henry promises Fergy that he won't get Catherine into trouble. By the end of the novel, however, they abandoned the war, lied to the police to get into Switzerland, had a child out of wedlock, and Catherine died. Henry may have intended to keep Catherine out of trouble, but once again a series of events occurred and Henry contradicted what was expected to happen. Despite good intentions, Henry failed to keep his promise due to the world around them. If it had not been for the war, the couple could have married and lived happily, without having to worry about their lives. Hemingway uses small examples like this to illustrate the magnitude of the Great War and the power it has over Catherine, Henry, and their lives. The brutality of war is also demonstrated during the time Henry is recovering from leg surgery. It is at this point that Henry and Catherine's interest in each other blossoms into a rich relationship. As previously stated, the couple was able to be together without worrying about the war surrounding them. This is the only time in the novel that Catherine and Henry are able to be together, without overwhelming complications. While they enjoyed their happiness, however, the war raged and grew in intensity. When Henry returns to the front, the Italian army is much weaker and the future is darker. Ramos concludes: “In the third book, Henry returns to the front and understands his place in the war. He has seen the true vision of war, and he gets tired of it and ends up fighting for a nation that isn't even his; Henry is happy to bid his "farewell to arms" and abandon his post in the Italian army. The Great War is no longer just the background of the novel; the war becomes a character and force in itself, opposing Frederic Henry's decision to leave. The irony in this section intensifies because Henry comes closer to death after deciding to leave the war for Catherine and Switzerland. The birth of Henry and Catherine's son as the final source of irony The couple, who had overcome so much, were finally happy and safe. . However, a labor and birth 2014. .