A Farewell to Arms

After his operation, Frederic feels very ill, just as Catherine predicted he would. He learns that there are three other patients in the hospital. Catherine is “greatly liked” (94) by the other nurses since she volunteers to do night duty, which of course allows her to sleep with Frederic at night without being caught. Frederic talks to Helen Ferguson, who passes notes between Frederic and Catherine, and asks if she will come to their wedding. Helen predicts they will fight and not marry or, if not, they are still doomed because he will die. She then warns him repeatedly not to get Catherine pregnant. She also suggests that he tell Catherine to take a break from night duty since she is exhausted. She warns that Miss Van Campen is aware of how much he sleeps in the afternoons.

He then asks Miss Gage to come in and asks her if she thinks Catherine should be off night duty. Miss Gage is surprised at the question, since she knows what is going on with him and Catherine and tells him that she is a friend. Catherine takes three nights off and then returns to him.

That summer, Catherine and Frederic are able to go out and around town, going to restaurants like the Gran Italia, where Frederic knows the headwaiter George, who not only advises them on the correct wines to order but also loans Frederic money when he needs it.

Catherine and Frederic talk about marriage, but Catherine worries about the practicalities, saying that the government would send her home if she were married. So instead, they pretend as if they already are married, although Frederic also worries about practicalities, especially if Catherine were to get pregnant. He tries not to think about it too much, saying: “I suppose I enjoyed not being married, really” (99). Catherine says marriage doesn’t matter too her anyway because she doesn’t have any religion. Then she clarifies: “You’re my religion. You’re all I’ve got” (100). When Frederic questions if she can be faithful, she brings up her dead fiancé, saying she was faithful to him and now she will be faithful to Frederic. She begs Frederic not to insist on marriage, saying that they can be happy with what they have right now.