Does Hemingway Exemplify The Wickedness Of World War I?

As many European countries and the USA began to engage in World War I, the horrors of war provoked people to reevaluate their lives and morals. Multiple authors during this time period decided to write books of the dreadful combat that was experienced by both soldiers and innocents. One such author, Ernest Miller Hemingway, wrote A Farewell to Arms, a novel which contains autobiographical touches to exemplify the wickedness of World War I. In the novel, the protagonist, Frederic Henry, exhibits his loss of patriotism, faith, and love as the book progresses. On the contrary, the knight in the poem,“A Farewell to Arms”, written by George Peele, a famous poet and dramatist in the 16th century, still withholds his patriotism, faith, and love even

As World War I progresses, Frederic slowly loses his faith in God, even though he wants to remain devout. Towards the end of the novel, Frederic and Count Greffi talk about religion and whether either of them would become devout. “I might become very devout”, says Frederic after Count Greffi tells him that he is too elderly to become religious (Hemingway 263). World War I caused people and soldiers to refrain from religion because they were too busy and scared from the seemingly never-ending war. They began to lose hope in God, and believed there was no reason to make prayers in such a horrid time like the first World War. On the contrary, even though the knight in Peele’s poem is old and somewhat helpless, he is still religious and continues to make prayers for both his country and Queen Elizabeth, whom is stated in the poem as a “Goddess”. “A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees/And feed on prayers, which are age his alms”, states the knight (Peele 9-10). Instead of writing love poems and fighting for his country and his sovereign like he once used to, the knight decides that he will compose prayers and be more religious. In the 16th century, society was much more devout since they had no fear of a hope-destroying war and had more time to put into Christianity and other religions. World War I contained a less religious society

As the novel progresses, Frederic’s love for Catherine decreases and their relationship is not what it once was. During the first few stages of the book, everything was truly romantic for the wounded soldier, Frederic, and the charming Italian nurse, Catherine. She was living the romanticized dream of any nurse: having a strong, handsome, yet wounded man in her arms for care. However, due to the treacherous and demeaning war, Frederic loses his sense of gentleness and love for Catherine. After talking with Frederic about his presumed love for Catherine, the priest states ,"What you tell me about in the nights. That is not love. That is only passion and lust. When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve." Due to World War I, Frederic Henry and many other soldiers alike would lose their sense of love and replace it with a feeling of lust. The knight in Peele’s poem, however, did not lose his sense of love for Queen Elizabeth and his relationship with her still remains ever romantic. He curses all of the people that think wrong of his beloved saying “Blest be the hearts that wish my sovereign well/Curst be the souls that think her any wrong” (Peele 15-16). Clearly, the knight wishes everyone who supports Queen Elizabeth well, and everyone who opposes her to be cursed. This is what true love is, nothing would get in