"A Farewell to Arms" is an intriguing and reflective novel that allows us to reason with themes such as the importance of pacifism, the lands provoked by wars, passions, family, loyalty, patriotism, among other things that are important for the human being and that they are part of the construction of our reasoning and personality. Henry's thoughts and the change in his views on war is a picture of human uncertainty and should be discussed and exposed at any time.
Frederic Henry is an American man, but he is participating in the war as an ambulance driver in the Italian Army. Their participation in the conflict is justified by the obligation of all male citizens to participate and defend a country. However, After seeing all the suffering and death that the war causes, being himself affected by pain and loss, this "obligation" seems superfluous and useless to Henry. He feels a tremendous aversion to war and wants to live in peace with the woman he loves, build a family and live in safety. Henry's goals lead him to desert, abandon the army and escape the fight. This makes him seen as a criminal, a traitor to the homeland and although Henry is happy to walk away from fighting, he feels guilt and remorse for not fighting and helping his territory.
Henry's story, his changes in thoughts and his incomplete happiness, even when reaching his goal can reflect on anyone's life. Our changes of opinion and our desires will not always lead us to full happiness and sometimes it will have a high price that will provoke bad feelings, like the remorse that Henry feels when deserting. Henry's story, I touch myself in a profound way and is capable of changing my opinions about patriotism, about responsibilities and about happiness too.
We can conclude, then, that "A Farewell to Arms" is a powerful novel because it allows us to have a deep look at our humanity and what gives us an impulse to do what we want and shows how complex, difficult and intense our thoughts are, through Henry, we see our limitations and our fragility.
