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Theme Of Love In A Farewell To Arms

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Love is a feeling we all search for and desire. This need leads us to force this emotion at times when we may not truly feel it. Because of this, it is often difficult to tell if our love is genuine or out of necessity. In Ernest Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms, Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley begin a complicated relationship during World War I. Amongst the pain and and loss of the war, it is unclear at times to understand if their love is authentic or purely a way for them to cope. However, it is evident that while Frederic truly falls in love, Catherine 's love for him is insincere. Catherine’s attachment to Frederic is based on the idea that their love is a game in which she is using her relationship as a way to cope with the war. Catherine admits to their love being a game on one of their first meetings, hinting at the fact that they are using each other out of necessity. She tells him, “You don 't have to pretend you love me. That 's over for the evening”, Frederic replies, “But I do love you", and Catherine admits, “Please let 's not lie when we don 't have to" (27). Even from the start of their relationship, it is clear that it is not her intention to fall in love. Catherine has lost her fiancé and now struggles with being alone throughout the war. She desperately needs someone to distract from her pain, which is why she rushes Frederic to say he loves her. Although many readers may challenge this idea by saying that they are both playing a game in the

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