Initiation in Ernest
Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms
Since it was published in the late 1920s, Ernest Hemingway’s novel A Farewell to Arms has mostly been read as a love story against the background of the First World War (Brooks 81; Matthews 77; Ross 90; Smith 78). This is right insofar as the novel deals with the young American Frederic Henry who, while being involved in the war on the side of the Italian Army, falls in love with a beautiful British nurse, Catherine Barkley. There is, however, more to this book: When looking at the world in which the protagonist finds himself, it becomes clear that it is one in which people are lacking proper, stable values. Everything that Frederic Henry learned in his teenage years, the world he grew up in and its complex value system based on such values as honor and dignity, has fallen apart. Frederic himself expresses this on several occasions, for example in Book Three, when he says,
I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice and the expression in vain. We had heard them, sometimes standing in the rain almost out of earshot, so that only the shouted words came through, and had read them, on proclamations that were slapped up by billposters over other proclamations, now for a long time, and I had seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stockyards at Chicago if nothing was done with the meat except to bury it. […] Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the number of roads, the names of rivers, the number of regiments and the dates. (Hemingway 184-5)
Because of the meaninglessness of those old values, A Farewell to Arms is also a story dealing with a quest that was typical for Frederic Henry’s generation: a quest for knowledge and a way of living in a world whose foundations have been shaken by the chaos created by World War I.
At the beginning of the novel, Frederic Henry is, in many ways, lost: He neither knows where he belongs nor where he is going. He seeks pleasure in activities such as drinking huge quantities of alcohol and going to a whorehouse with his comrades. As it depicts his growth from immaturity to maturity, or, in a way, completion of his character, A Farewell to Arms should be read as his initiation story.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- What is Initiation?
- The First Phase: Exit
- The Second Phase: Transition
- The Third Phase: Re-entrance
- Frederic Henry's Mentors
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to examine the concept of initiation as portrayed in Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms, analyzing Frederic Henry's development from immaturity to maturity within the context of the First World War. The paper will use Peter Freese's definition of initiation as a framework to explore the three phases of the initiation process: exit, transition, and re-entrance.
- The concept of initiation as a journey from innocence to experience
- The influence of war on the protagonist's development
- The role of mentors in guiding the initiate
- The complexities of love and loss in a war-torn world
- The search for meaning and purpose in a world without traditional values
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction will provide an overview of the existing interpretations of A Farewell to Arms, highlighting its portrayal as a love story set against the backdrop of war. It will also introduce the concept of initiation as a central theme, exploring the protagonist's quest for meaning and self-discovery in a chaotic world.
The second chapter defines the concept of initiation, drawing upon various critical perspectives, such as Brooks and Warren's emphasis on the discovery of evil and disorder, Marcus's focus on the change of knowledge and character, and Hassan's view of initiation as a path towards a fulfilling life. Freese's definition of initiation, emphasizing the three phases of exit, transition, and re-entrance, will be particularly significant in analyzing Frederic Henry's development.
The third chapter focuses on the first phase of initiation: exit. It explores the characteristics of Frederic Henry as he is introduced in the novel, identifying his shortcomings and immature attitudes. It will examine his hedonistic tendencies, his detached and unfeeling approach to relationships, and his lack of understanding about death.
The fourth chapter delves into the second phase of initiation: transition. It will analyze Frederic Henry's experiences that lead him to question his past and confront his own limitations. This chapter will discuss the impact of war on his worldview, his growing awareness of the brutality and meaninglessness of conflict, and his evolving understanding of love and death.
The fifth chapter examines the third phase of initiation: re-entrance. It will explore Frederic Henry's transformation as he navigates the challenges of war and loss, forging new values and seeking a meaningful way of life. This chapter will explore his complex relationship with Catherine Barkley, his growing sense of empathy and compassion, and his search for personal fulfillment in a world shattered by conflict.
The sixth chapter focuses on the mentors who guide Frederic Henry's journey, emphasizing the role of Catherine Barkley as a significant figure in his transformation. It will also consider the influence of other characters, such as Count Greffi and the priest, in shaping his understanding of love, loss, and the meaning of life.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key concepts explored in this paper include initiation, war, trauma, masculinity, love, loss, morality, values, and the search for meaning. The paper examines the specific themes of initiation in Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms, using the three phases of exit, transition, and re-entrance to analyze Frederic Henry's development in a world ravaged by the First World War. This analysis focuses on the key role of Catherine Barkley as a mentor and the impact of the war on the protagonist's understanding of love, loss, and the meaning of life.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nina Dietrich (Autor:in), 2002, Initiation in Ernest Hemingway´s ´A Farewell to Arms´, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/3069
