Religion in Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms Essay...

The Role of Religion in A Farewell to Arms Religion played a significant role in Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms. The attitudes that the character had towards the war and life were closely associated with their views on religion. Due to extreme circumstances of war, moral standards were obscure for the characters. Almost everything related to the war violated the normal code of morality, which led many to feel disenchanted. Those who viewed the war as senseless had no faith in God or religion. For the character of Fredrick Henry it was clear that his faith in God was a subject of conflict. Henry was a character that understood religion, but did not love God. His love for Catherine was the most religious feeling that he†¦show more content†¦Conflict regarding morality was experienced by Fredrick Henry when he was deciding where to go for his leave. The priest wanted him to go to Abruzzi where it was described as clean and pure (9). But instead, he went to the big cities such as Rome, Naples, and Florence. It was likely that he spent much of his time in these cities drinking and frequented the whorehouses. In this instance he chose to visit places that were not pure and clean. Henry explained that he wanted to go to Abruzzi, but did not do the things that he wanted (13). Catherine was another character that was not religious. At first Catherine Barkley appeared to show some faith in religion, because she gave Fredrick Henry a Saint Anthony. When asked by Henry if she was a Catholic, she said no (43). Later, when they discussed marriage, Catherine further clarified her stand on religion by saying: You see, darling, it would mean everything to me if I had any religion. But I havent any religion. (116). The only thing that she believed in was her love for Fredrick Henry, she stated, ...Youre my religion. Youre all Ive got. (116). Count Greffi who was viewed by Henry as being a man of wisdom. His wisdom was attributed to old age, and he too was not religious. Count Greffi told Henry, I had always expected to be devout. All my family died very devout. But somehow it does not come. (263). This statement was interesting, because Count Greffi seemed toShow MoreRelatedDiscussion of Stereotypes in a Farewell to Arms1449 Words   |  6 Pagesin common - they a re truer than if they had really happened, Hemingway wrote just five years after publishing A Farewell to Arms, a novel written about the war in Italy, which is ironic because A Farewell to Arms can be seen as a semi-autobiographical novel, as some of the events that occur in the novel are based off of Hemingways own life. 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