In Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell To Arms, the story of the love affair between Catherine Barkley and Frederick Henry is told. While Catherine seeks love even if she must self-construct her illusions of it, Henry remains emotionally cool and distant. Despite many individuals viewing Catherine's desire for love and her willingness to fabricate the illusion of it as weakness, in actuality her character ultimately teaches Henry to live and love.
Catherine Barkley brings enormous change into the life of Henry, who before her arrival buries his emotional scars over war and women in work, alcohol, and casual sexual encounters. Like Rinaldi, who "never thinks," before Catherine's loving and supportive influence Henry represses his pain and self-medicates (Hemingway 167). Catherine supports Henry because of her genuine love for him. When he maintains he is a coward for considering desertion she reminds him to be sensible. What Rinaldi cannot discover in himself, Henry will from Catherine's acquaintance and influence. Catherine's mentoring saves Henry from the nihilism exhibited by Rinaldi, "There's nothing else I tell you. Not a damned thing. I know, when I stop working" (Hemingway 174).
Catherine's love makes Henry feel worthwhile. She ultimately helps him empathize with other human beings and to connect with them on an emotional level. In the scene where they discuss Catherine cutting her hair, we see Henry has reached a new level of fulfillment and meaning in life:
I wouldn't let you cut yours.
It would be fun. I'm tired of it. It's an awful nuisance in the bed at night...
It might be nice short. Then we'd both be alike. Oh, darling, I want you so much I want to be you too.
You are. We're the same one.
When Catherine experiences difficulties during childbirth, we see how Henry has fully matured due to her influence. W
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