Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and the Women of War

Welcome to the Lit Lounge! Exploring Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway

How does war shape love? How does Hemingway capture the raw human cost of conflict? These are the questions that make A Farewell to Arms an enduring classic. Published in 1929 and inspired by Hemingway’s experiences as an ambulance driver during World War I, this novel intertwines the brutality of war with a haunting love story.

If you haven’t read A Farewell to Arms yet, don’t worry—I’ll walk you through some of its most intriguing elements while keeping spoilers to a minimum. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll be curious enough to pick it up yourself. This was only my second Hemingway book - I started with the memoir, A Moveable Feast (1964, posthumous) about 1920s Paris. After reading these two books I want to learn more about the man, Hemingway - not just the legend.

The Injury That Changed Everything

In July 1918, while delivering supplies, Hemingway was hit by 220 pieces of mortar shell shrapnel in his legs. He should have died. He later described his soul momentarily leaving his body before returning. Despite his injuries, he carried an injured Italian soldier to safety before collapsing, earning Italy’s Silver Medal of Military Valor.

He then spent months recovering in a Milan hospital, which should sound familiar if you’ve read A Farewell to Arms. This period of his life became the foundation of Frederic Henry’s experience in the novel.

A Love Story That Didn’t Last

While recovering, Hemingway fell in love with Agnes von Kurowsky, an American nurse seven years older than him. Their relationship seemed romantic, but Agnes ultimately rejected him, leaving him heartbroken. This painful experience found its way into A Farewell to Arms through Catherine Barkley’s character and her relationship with Frederic. As I read, I found myself questioning his portrayal of women, particularly Catherine Barkley. Was she a strong character ahead of her time, or was F. Scott Fitzgerald right to call her the novel’s weak link?

Complex Catherine: A Product of Her Time or Hemingway’s Weak Link?

Fitzgerald called Catherine the "weak link" of the novel. Sometimes, Catherine Barkley drove me nuts. Particularly the way she spoke with all her 'darlings', I found it so annoying. And her clinginess -the way she clings to Frederic with such intensity - makes you wonder whether its more about survival than genuine love.

"I’m not brave any more darling. I’m all broken. They’ve broken me."

But stepping back, I remembered and considered the context. Catherine is a nurse’s aide during a war, a role requiring immense strength. She lost her fiancé before meeting Frederic, so she enters their relationship already emotionally fragile. Her deep devotion to him could be seen as desperation in the face of chaos. Maybe she loved him, or maybe she just needed something to hold onto before everything was ripped away again.

Even so, I can see why Fitzgerald had a problem with her.

Challenging Norms: Hemingway’s Subtle Approach to Gender Roles

Hemingway is known for understatement, and in A Farewell to Arms, he lets us glimpse a quiet rebellion against traditional gender roles. While Catherine’s devotion to Frederic often feels like submission, her professional strength as a nurse suggests otherwise.

One of the most striking moments of self-awareness comes when Catherine reflects on her lost fiancé:

“I didn’t want to marry him. I don’t know what I wanted. I wanted to go away with him, and I wanted him to stay alive. That was a really big thing to want.”

Here, Hemingway gives us a woman who doesn’t conform entirely to societal expectations. She doesn’t dream of a wedding—she dreams of adventure and survival. This layered characterization is what makes Catherine so fascinating.

Rinaldi: Hemingway’s Commentary on Male Attitudes Toward Women

And then there’s Rinaldi—the charming, arrogant Italian surgeon whose views on women are, frankly, awful. He believes he can win women over with money and charm, boasting:

“I must make on Miss Barkley the impression of a man of sufficient wealth.”

His attitude is frustrating, but Hemingway’s portrayal of Rinaldi is deliberate. By making his views so blatantly superficial, Hemingway invites the reader to be critical of them. Rinaldi would frustrate today's women -- he is a product of his time—a contrast to Frederic, who forms a deeper connection with Catherine (even if their love is flawed).

The Unsung Heroes: The Nurses of A Farewell to Arms

Beyond Catherine, Hemingway gives us a glimpse of the real heroes—the nurses working tirelessly just behind the front lines. He knew this from his personal experience in the war. Their dedication is understated but powerful:

“The nurses worked just behind the front. The road was shelled sometimes, and the ambulances came in everyday.”

Despite exhaustion and danger, they kept going. While Hemingway doesn’t delve into their inner thoughts, their actions speak louder than words. These women weren’t just caretakers; they were warriors in their own right.

Loss of Innocence: War’s Toll on Women

One of the most poignant moments in the novel comes when Frederic and his fellow soldiers encounter two young sisters during a retreat. Their presence is a stark reminder of innocence caught in the horrors of war:

“A retreat is no place for two virgins. Real virgins. Probably very religious.”

These girls symbolize everything war destroys—not just lives, but ideals, innocence, and youth. And in a deeply unsettling moment, Bonello’s repeated touching of one of the girls’ thighs highlights the objectification and vulnerability that women faced in times of war. Hemingway doesn’t glorify this—he exposes it.

Final Thoughts: Love, War, and the Cost of It All

Through Catherine, the resilient nurses, and even the young girls caught in war’s path, Hemingway illustrates how profoundly women’s lives were shaped by conflict. A Farewell to Arms is a novel that lingers long after you turn the last page. It’s a war story, a love story, and a story about survival in a world where nothing is guaranteed. Hemingway’s writing is sparse but powerful, capturing the raw emotions of war and human connection.

I found his portrayal of women frustrating at times, but I had to remind myself of the historical context. From Catherine’s contradictions to the strength of the nurses, A Farewell to Arms offers a nuanced look at how war impacts women—both in obvious and subtle ways. While Catherine’s character sometimes frustrated me, she reflects both the constraints of Hemingway’s era and the larger themes of war and survival he sought to explore.

What do you think?

If you haven’t read the book, does this discussion make you curious to check it out? The library is always a great place to find classics, or you can listen to it -- check out this free audiobook version.

Was Catherine a strong character ahead of her time, or was Fitzgerald right to critique her? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment and let’s discuss.

Cheers to Hemingway’s genius and the eternal magic of literature!

🎥 If you want to learn more about Hemingway’s life and experiences like I did, check out Ken Burns’ Hemingway documentary for an in-depth look at the man behind A Farewell to Arms.

A version of this review was originally published on my blog, Xine’s Pack, in August 2023.