Question

What does the machinery in the hospital represent to the army major in the story?

Answer 1

Before the war, the Major had been the most accomplished fencer in Italy. He gave up fencing to serve his country. After being wounded, he could no longer fence nor could he perform his military service; however, the Major is a man of courage. He carries on with life, going to the hospital every day, since that is what his life has become. After his young wife's tragic and unexpected death, the Major does not come to the hospital for three days, then he returns, to carry on in spite of his most recent and devastating loss. Like many of Hemingway's characters, the Major's quiet courage is that of endurance. He cannot control life, but he chooses to endure in spite of his losses.