Role Realism Plays in the Novel Farewell to Arms - Research Paper Example

College Role realism plays in the novel “farewell to arms” In the novel of farewell to arms, the has used realism as one of the clear styles that can help readers in understanding the novel without thinking deeply. Realism describes life in a factual manner without using any impractical descriptions that may seem impossible in the real life (Lehan, 67). The author uses a plain language to describe this reality. The themes in the novel are described in a simple and acceptable language that shows how the real life should be. Many authors like to use complex languages in their work in order to make their readers think deeply but Ernest Hemingway’s is an exceptional. He uses plain language that can clearly describe how real the actions in the novel were. Ernest’s novel resolves around the real happening of the world war. He brings in the real actions in a narration style. This style ensures that all the scenes and occurrence are described in clear and simple manner that makes it easier for the readers to understand them. The simple language used ensures that the description of the novel can have similar description from different readers since the narration in clear and does not need deep thinking, which bring make readers understand it differently (Halliday, 214). The theme of love, war, friendship, individualism, identity and patriotism are all described in a plain language that shows bow real were the occurrences. However, realism has played a big role in creating these themes and also characters. In the novel, war is has been glamorized. It has been described in a real way that shows clearly how the war was. War is described in a horrified way according to how the ambulance driver views. War is a game where only the poor people are one who suffers. This is true even in the reality. In most cases, the poor are the one who are affected by war. This is evidenced in the novel where Henry eats the macaroni that was hit by the mortar. War is not a patriotic action but is a very tiresome activity. Rinaldi refers war as a disease. This is because he suffered from gonorrhea that he thought everyone has the diseases. However, from is view, war is great but when it is too much I can make pleasurable thing to be tiresome. Like a disease, wars spreads until people wish there could a cure for it (Halliday, 219). Therefore, cure will allow people to breath well before the next outbreak is realized. The novel also describes the real brutality that was taking place the war. It gives the real happenings of war. Some people like Henry removed themselves of the war while others who were naive still embraced the war. The novel describes how the Italian army caused violent chaos and destruction. Henry shot an innocent engineer who refused to free the car from the mud. This killing showed that war has inevitable occurrences. From the author’s suggestion, war is dark and murderous activity that refuses to preserve or protect the true love (Lehan, 67). Realism has been used to build the theme of games and divertissement. People are tired of war. They are trying to do other activities to deviate themselves from it. They want to avoid thinking about the war by engaging in other activities. This is realistic in a way that when one wants to avoid other things, he or she has to engage in other activities that bring diversion (Phillips, 29). Many characters in the novel try to diversify themselves from the horrors of were. They involve themselves with pleasurable activities. Henry and Catherine deviate themselves from war by flirting to forget their personal troubles. This flirting helps henry to forget about the war and enables Catherine to forget thinking about her fiancee she lost in the war. They involve themselves in horse races to ensure that their minds are far ways from the war troubles. Henry’s relationship with Catherine has caused him some suffering. To avoid thinking about that, he involves himself in pooling game with Count Greffi (Halliday, 224). Realism has also been used to build the theme of love. The novel a farewell to arms revolves around the love between henry and Catherine. Henry is an American. He is an ambulance driver in the Italian army. Before meeting Catherine, an English nurse, he is very lonely, restless and confused. His lifestyle changes after meeting Catherine. He gets to know the meaning of life and his character changes. War catalyzes their relationship by bringing them together emotionally. War also forces them to separate temporarily. Henry’s ideas about love have been changed by his feeling for Catherine and also her conversation with Count Greffi and the priest. Count Greffi advices Henry that loves for a woman is at par with his religious belief. Henry applies this idea when he is praying for the safety of Catherine. The priest also advises Henry that true love is the one you serve your lover with affection. The author uses simple language when explaining the love of Henry for Catherine (Phillips, 39). Through the author’s description, he brings love into the reality. It shows that love can take place very strange situation like war. Despite the problems that Henry and Catherine went through, they were able to feel and care for each other. This is a reality in our lives today. Couples who are love are supposed to go through some difficult situations before they know each other very well. Henry and Catherine had many differences but due to their closeness, they are able to understand one another (Halliday, 231). Realism has been used to describe the geographic conditions during the world war. The author incorporates the effects on geographical conditions on the people involved in the war. The novel starts with very rainy condition. Most of the places are flooded and rain has become the major cause of death and destruction. The novel shows clearly how rain affected many occurrences during world war. It caused many deaths and destruction to the soldiers. The rains turn the happiness Henry and Catherine had into misery. On the other hand, rain symbolizes positive things are to happen. The author uses this to show importance of water by narrating how Henry uses a river and a lake to escape from the authorities. Frozen water also was very important to the soldiers and Henry. During this time, many people could not be involved in fighting because of the extremely cold conditions. They would prefer to look for shelter before they proceed. This created the happiest moments for henry and Catherine. This is a real situation because during rainy conditions, people tend to look for shelter and stop any other activities they were doing (Lewis, 36). Realism has also been used to build the traits of the characters. The author gives the characters realistic capabilities using very simple and common language. The major characters in this novel are Frederic Henry, Catherine Berkley, Rinaldi, the priest and the count Greffi. The author creates them in a very realistic way. He gives them realistic attributes that are easy to note from the novel. Frederic Henry is an American who is driving Italian army ambulance. He sees himself as a duty man who does not to be honor even if he does something that deserves some honor. He refuses Rinaldi’s medals after he has helped despite the injuries he had. Since he is a new person there, Henry lives and learns a lot in order to be in good terms with Catherine who seems to be more knowledgeable than him (Lewis, 39). Henry has no excuse but to act a more matured way. Henry shows that he is ready for change. This sounds realistic because for one to be able to adapt to the way other people live, they have to change their behavior and believes first. Henry tells the priest that he do not love God. He says that he loves no one and God has not an exceptional. The priest assures him that he will come to love God one day. The priest understands Henry very well. Henry denied her love with Catherine first but they later met in Milan where he serious accepted that he was in love with her. This time, henry had changed his behavior and his wisdom was increasing. He had gained more experience and he even asked Catherine out (Lewis, 40). The author has used the realism to build the character traits of Catherine. She is a nurse working with the Red Cross. She lost her fiancee in the war. She prefers henry for Renaldo. She is a static character who does not change in any way. Her character is the same throughout the novel. The author gives her some extraordinary characteristics. This is evidenced when crosses the Lake Maggiore although she is pregnant. She is able to travel through the November night using the boat. She is able roll the boat sometimes something that look a supernatural to some extent. She has more knowledge than Henry. When Henry tells her that nothing can happen to heroes, she challenges him that heroes always die (Phillips, 53). A realistic character trait about her is when she falls in love with Henry, a complete from America. This shows that love does not have any boundary. Henry impregnates her but unfortunately, she dies in hospital after bleeding a lot. However, realism has been used in developing the whole novel from themes to the characters. This has made the novel good in describe the real occurrences that took place during the First World War. The characters seem to be real ones although they are just created by the author. All scenes in the novel depict the reality that was there during the First World War. Therefore, realism has played very big role in the novel. Work cited Lewis, Robert W. A Farewell to Arms: The War of the Words. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992. Print. Phillips, Brian. A Farewell to Arms: Ernest Hemingway. New York, NY: Spark Pub, 2002. Print. Sexton, Adam. Cliffsnotes, Hemingway's a Farewell to Arms. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, 2001. Print. Halliday, Fred. "Peace Processes in the Late Twentieth Century and Beyond: A Mixed Record." A Farewell to Arms? : Beyond the Good Friday Agreement. (2006): 394-408. Print. Lehan, Richard, and Michael S. Reynolds. "Review of Hemingway's First War: the Making of a Farewell to Arms." American Literature. 49.3 (1977): 471-473. Print. Silverman, Jerry. Songs of the British Isles. Pacific, MO: Mel Bay Publications, 1993. Musical score. Belafonte, Harry. "Farewell to Arms." Deep As the River. (2008). Print. Read More