A Farewell to Arms also contains many symbols, but most of them have to do with nature. The most important symbol in this novel is rain. Every time it rains outside, something bad happens. It is raining when Henry and Catherine get together, when Catherine reveals she’s pregnant, when Henry had to go back to the front, and when Catherine dies. Even Catherine admits that she is afraid of “the rain” and says it can be capable of things for couples. Snow and ice also represent a sign of relief from the war or death. When it is snowing, the war stops for a while until winter is over, Catherine and Henry go to Switzerland to escape from the war, which is covered in snow, and snow is used to stop Henry’s wound when he got hurt. Although snow does not hold things off permanently, it is a good sign of hope for the people.
A Farewell to Arms also contains many symbols, but most of them have to do with nature. The most important symbol in this novel is rain. Every time it rains outside, something bad happens. It is raining when Henry and Catherine get together, when Catherine reveals she’s pregnant, when Henry had to go back to the front, and when Catherine dies. Even Catherine admits that she is afraid of “the rain” and says it can be capable of things<~~what things? for couples. Snow and ice also represent a sign of<~~delete "a sign of" -- redundant relief from the war or death. When it is snowing, the war stops for a while until winter is over, Catherine and Henry go to Switzerland to escape from<~~delete "from" the war, which is covered in snow, and snow is used to stop Henry’s wound when he got<~~change "got" to "was" hurt. Although snow does not hold things off permanently, it is a good sign of hope for the people.
The symbol of rain in Ernest Hemingway's novel "A Farewell to Arms" represents the occurrence of something bad or tragic. Every time it rains in the story, it coincides with significant negative events. For example, it is raining when the protagonist, Henry, and Catherine get together, indicating that their relationship will face challenges. Rain is also present when Catherine reveals she is pregnant, foreshadowing the difficulties they will encounter as a result. Additionally, when Henry is forced to return to the front, it is raining again, signifying the impending danger and separation.
Catherine herself acknowledges the negative connotations of rain and expresses fear of its effects on relationships. She believes that rain has the power to disturb or disrupt the harmony between couples.
On the other hand, snow and ice in the novel symbolize relief from the war or death. When it snows, the war briefly pauses, offering a respite from the continuous violence. Catherine and Henry's escape to Switzerland, a country covered in snow, represents their attempt to find sanctuary from the horrors of the war. Furthermore, snow is used as a means to stop Henry's wound from bleeding, illustrating its healing and restorative qualities.
Although snow does not provide a permanent solution or cessation of suffering, it serves as a symbol of hope for the characters and provides temporary relief from the harsh realities of war and loss.