Gabrielle Green

English 377
Paper 1: A Farewell to Arms
4/2/16
Catherine Barkly: mans stepping stone to achievement and fulfillment

The Bechdel test, while usually applied to films, asks whether a work of fiction

features at least two named, women characters who talk to each other about something

other than a man. Works that pass the test are considered to have a rudimentary level of

female agency and independence. Ernest Hemingways hyper masculine novel, A

Farewell to Arms, does not pass the Bechdel test. The novel, published in 1929, is set in

Italy during World War I and centers around Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American

ambulance driver in the Italian army. Catherine Barkley is an English nurse and serves as

Henrys love interest. Unlike Henry, she is a static character who does not function as an

individual with her own purpose. The idealization, submission and eventual death of

Catherine Barkley demonstrate her sole purpose to further the development of Frederic

Henry and fulfill his desires.

Catherine Barkley is an idealized representation of male desire. As Henrys love

interest, her purpose is to fulfill his desires. In A readers Guide to Ernest Hemingway,

Arthur Waldhorn writes, Catherine is archetypally ideal, the quintessence of adolescent

and middle-aged male desire (Waldhorn 123). A consistent theme throughout their

relationship is the desire to be shielded from the war. Both of the characters use the

relationship to distract themselves from the horror surrounding them. While Catherine is

caring for Henry in the hospital, they discuss Henrys past love life.

How many have youhow do you say it?stayed with?

None.
 Youre lying to me.

Yes.

Its all right. Keep right on lying to me. Thats what I want you to do. Were they

pretty? (Hemingway 104-105)

Initially, the relationship was a game of love with the sole purpose of distracting them

from unpleasant circumstances. This passage demonstrates this game but also one of the

illusions their entire relationship is built upon. Catherine and Henry are both

acknowledging the lie. This dialogue establishes the importance of illusion in Catherine

and Henrys relationship. By accepting the illusion, Catherine furthers her position as and

idealization rather than a realistic character. Catherines hair is a significant symbol in the

novel. Henrys description of her hair in chapter XVII has become a well-known passage.

He says, I would watch her while she kept very still and then take out the last two pins

and it would all come down and she would drop her head and we would both be inside of

it, and it was the feeling of inside a tent or behind a falls. (Hemingway 114). This

description stands as a symbol of the couples isolation from the world. Henry allows

himself to believe that they are protected from the outside world by something as delicate

as hair. In this description we are reminded of Catherines alluring beauty as well as her

innate ability to be exactly what Henry needs at any given point.

By submitting to Henrys desires, Catherine furthers her position as an idealized

representation of male desire. After discussing the relationship between a man and a

prostitute, Catherine states that she too, will say just what you wish and do what you

wish (Hemingway 105). Later on, she tells Henry, And Ive tried to be the way you

wanted (Hemingway 139) as if she had failed at doing so. Throughout the novel,
Catherine is obsessed with ensuring her status as the ideal woman. An ideal woman is

submissive and affectionate, sees her lover as god, and desires only to shed her own

identity and replaces it with the man she loves.

Catherine Barkley is willing to submit to Henry despite her general rejection of

societal expectations. When Henry and Catherine first meet, she appears to have strict

beliefs and a tendency to stand out from societal norms. She initially set up to fit into the

paradigm of the New Woman. Yet Catherine quickly submits to Henry and allows her self

to be defined by their relationship. This submission solidifies her as a Victorian Woman.

Shortly after meeting, Catherine and Henry are left alone together. When Henry tries to

kiss her, Catherine slaps him. Her immediate reaction is to apologize, Im so sorry, she

said. I felt I had a certain advantage I was angry and yet certain, seeing it all ahead like

the moves in a chess game. (Hemingway 26). Considering the amount of time she has

known him, Catherines response is acceptable and plausible. With little discussion of the

incident, Catherine allows Henry to kiss her, I kissed her hard and held her tight and

tried to open her lips; they were closed tight. I was still angry (Hemingway 27). Through

this description, it is clear that Catherine is uncomfortable and does not want to be kissing

Henry. Henrys language in both quotes is indicative of how he views Catherine and their

relationship. He is quick to take advantage of her and already expects her submission.

After their kiss, Catherine says to Henry, You will [be good to me], wont you? She

looked up at me. Because were going to have a strange life. (Hemingway 27). Despite

being almost complete strangers and this borderline abusive situation, Catherine quickly

submits to Henrys desires and attaches herself to him. She is already expecting a whole

life together and has no problem abandoning her values in order to win favor with Henry.
 According to the little information given regarding Catherines past, she has a

history is submission in her pervious relationship. In every other component of her life,

Catherine stands as an individual against societal expectations. Yet she lets the men in her

life define her. The only backstory we have regarding Catherine is about her previous

relationship. Catherine does not exist outside of a romantic relationship, whether that is

with Henry or her dead fianc. Catherine has no problem being defined by these

relationships. In chapter XVIII, Catherine says to Henry, I want what you want. There

isnt any me anymore. Just what you want. (Hemingway 106). This abandonment of

personal identity furthers the divide between Henry and Catherine. To reinforce her

perspective, when speaking of marriage, Catherine tells Henry, You are my religion.

Youre all Ive got. (Hemingway 116). To maintain their relationship, Catherine must

give up everything while Henry gives up nothing. She is stripped of the very core of her

existence. Without Henry she would have no identity. This merger of ones individuality

is very much and old world ideal.

Catherine Barkleys death serves as the driving force in completing Henrys

emotional journey throughout the novel. As the protagonist of A Farewell to Arms,

Henrys character arc is dependent on the death of Catherine Barkley. After the baby is

delivered, Henry thinks, Poor, poor dear Cat. And this was the price you paid for

sleeping together. This was the end of the trap. This was what people got for loving each

other. (Hemingway 320). With the major theme of love and war running through the

novel, her death is inevitable and necessary to complete the plot. Henry comes to the

conclusion that even love cannot shelter him from the pain of loss and death. Shortly

before her death, Henry says, And now Catherine would die. That is what you did. You
died But they killed you in the end. You could count on that. Stay around and they

would kill you. (Hemingway 327). This passage serves as the completion of Henrys

journey and a sort of farewell to Catherines embrace. Catherines main purpose

throughout the novel is to help Henry achieve this final conclusion. She has no individual

purpose or accomplishment. Catherine insures Henrys completed story.

The death of Catherine Barkly is only tragic because it leaves Henry alone.

Because Catherine is a representation of an ideal woman, she is essentially replaceable.

Catherine has no unique qualities that solidify her place or purpose in Henrys life. In her

final words to Henry, Catherine says, You wont do our things with another girl, or say

the same things, will you?I want you to have girls, though. (Hemingway 331). The

need for her to ask this question cements her status as interchangeable with other women.

Catherine herself knows that Henry could go out and find another women just like her to

fulfill her role after her death. With her replaceable nature, even Catherines one purpose

of fulfilling Henrys desires furthering his character development is taken from her. If she

is replaceable than anyone could serve this purpose in Henrys life. Catherine Barkley is a

commodity; an object used to propel a man to achievement and fulfillment.

The idealization and function of women in prevalent literature continues the

inequality between women and men and promote unrealistic expectations of women.

Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms tells the story of Frederic Henry as he explores

the relationship between love and war. His eventual conclusion is that the repercussions

of both are the same: pain and loss. Catherine is a representation of an ideal woman who

attends to Henrys desires through submission and abandonment of personal identity.

Catherines death at the conclusion of the novel is the final plot point in Henrys
resolution. A moment that should be about the individual dying is only significant

because it affirms Henrys development. Catherine Barkley, being essentially replaceable,

serves no individual purpose other than as a tool for Frederic Henry.