A Farewell to Arms

Frederic’s train leaves for the front at midnight. The train arrives in Milan at 10:30, and he asks the porter to hold a seat for him since the train would be full by midnight. Frederic meets Catherine, and they spend their last evening together. They see another couple by the cathedral and when Frederic says that the couple is like them, Catherine responds, “Nobody is like us” (129). They go to an armorer’s shop because Frederic needs a gun since he no longer has his: “Now we’re fully armed” (130). They go to a hotel across the station after Catherine purchases a nightgown.

When they are in the hotel room, Catherine looks at all of the red plush and the mirrors in the room, and says, “I never felt like a whore before” (133). Frederic is frustrated that they have to argue on their last night, but then Catherine quickly changes her demeanor and becomes acquiescent again. They eat dinner and then make love and Catherine says that it’s a fine room after all. As they talk, Catherine asks about Frederic’s family and he says he has a step-father who she won’t have to meet. They allude to Andrew Marvell’s “To a Coy Mistress” when they realize that their time is running out. Abruptly, Frederic begins to ask Catherine about the plans for the baby, asking how she will arrange everything. Catherine assures him not to worry.

They take the stairs down instead of the elevator and there is a waiter there, waiting for Frederic to pay for the bill. Even though the manager is a friend, he must still pay. He asks Catherine how she feels, and she asks him if he has food. They say their goodbyes quickly, and Frederic tells her to take care of young Catherine.

When he boards the train, the mood is hostile. When he takes the seat that was saved for him, a captain with a fresh scar tells him he’s not allowed to save seats. At first Frederic doesn’t give in, but he realizes that what he’s doing is not fair; the captain has waited for two hours on the train. He gives him the seat. The train starts, and Frederic is forced to sleep on the floor.