A Farewell to Arms: Book 2

Quote 1

"When I saw her I was in love with her" (91).

After Frederick gets shot in Milan, he was rushed to the American hospital. Miss Barkley goes to visit him after not seeing him for a long time. When Frederick sees Miss Barkley again, he states how beautiful she is and says he was in love with her. Throughout the story, Miss Barkley asks Frederick multiple times if he  loves her and Frederick just lies and says yes. This is the first time he tells the reader he loves her on his own.

Quote 2

"And you'll always love me, won't you?" (125).

Love will be a companion at a time of loneliness. Catherine asks Frederick if he will ever stop loving her and he replies that he will always love her. Catherine asks him "...the rain won't make any difference?" (125). In this sense, rain symbolizes an inevitable thing that will separate them and leave them in solitude. Rain is a naturally occurring thing that surpasses the human capabilities. Catherine thinks this rain will tear things apart, leaving them divided. Catherine states her fear of the cold rain to Frederick: "Because I'm afraid of the rain" (125) and asks him to stay with her. Catherine hints for a companion in the rain when she says she's not scared of the rain if she is with Frederick. Catherine shows her fear of dying alone when she says "...sometimes I see me dead in it" (126). She says the rain can take anyone because "And sometimes I see you dead in it" (126) to Frederick. In order to solve her fear of the rain and isolation, she seeks Frederick's love as a companion that will be with her through the storm. If he's love is not strong enough to comfort her, it will be a distraction from the rain. But if Frederick's love is as strong as they portray it to be, then it will truly rid her fear of dying alone and isolation in general. 
Bo