A Farewell to Arms: Book 4

Quote 1

"It is hard to leave the country but in no way impossible" (238). 

Frederick has gotten off the train in Milan and heads towards a wine shop. There, he has a conversation with the proprietor. The proprietor mentions that if Frederick is in trouble, he could stay there and that it is hard to leave the country but not entirely impossible to leave. This gives a glimmer of hope that no matter how difficult leaving the country is, it is still doable. This gives a parallel to real life where you have to believe that no matter how the odds are against you, you always have that chance, no matter how slim, to succeed.

Quote 2

“It’s cheerful rain” (278).

Isolation is an illusion brought upon a time of chaos. In the beginning of the book, Catherine displayed her fear of the rain, “I’m afraid of the rain” (125). The rain symbolizes isolation as it separates Catherine and Frederick during the war. When Frederick has to go back to the front, leaving Catherine all alone, the rain is present in the background “The retreat was orderly, wet, and sullen” (188). However, when Catherine and Frederick leave the war zone, there is happy rain. This cruel rain has lost its power of tearing them apart outside of the war. Catherine and Frederick believe that they will be together and the fear of solitude has vanished.