The Reality of War

The book takes a realistic look at the mentality of war, specifically the mentality surrounding the circumstances of World War I on the European front. Since Ernest Hemingway was actually part of the action in World War I, he was able to paint an accurate description of the people, places, and actions common to the war. The character of Rinaldi is a compilation of Italian men that Hemingway knew, and Catherine represents the role women played functionally in the war. Hemingway could have based his book on a fictional war and used fictional locations but he knew that real-life provided a more poignant backdrop.

There is a drastic change in the morale of the military personnel in Gorizia from the beginning of the book to when Henry returns from his stay in Milan. At the start, young men and women are vibrant and enthusiastic about...