About Josh Silverstein Expertise I will answer questions relating to Ernest Hemingway's life or literature. I can also help with quotation source requests. No homework questions please.
Experience Mr. Silverstein holds a B.A. in English Literature and has been studying the life and works of Ernest Hemingway for the past ten years. His major work on Hemingway is titled, "The Importance of Being Ernest: Hemingway's Truth in Fiction and his Fiction in Truth." He is also author of "Hemingway: Alive and Well Online," an article exploring Hemingway's presence and position in the online community. He is the founder of "Timeless Hemingway," an award winning web site devoted to Ernest Hemingway.
Question describe the theme of nothingness in fare well to arms.
Answer Hello,
The Hemingway hero is a restless man, doesn't like the night, often will sleep through the day and stay awake during the night. The darkness of the night represents nothingness, the state in which things will be when one is dead, absolute oblivion. Darkness and sleep must be avoided, for in these states there is nothingness, "nada." Hemingway's discourse on "nada" is his way of exploring the darker side of his spiritual self.
Now try to apply some of the above ideas to Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley in "A Farewell to Arms." How do Frederic and Catherine treat each other in the night? Do they make any references to darkness or the night? What are the symbols of nothingness in the book?
You may also want to see the below link for more on the themes of "A Farewell to Arms." You should be able to find the "nada" in many of the themes:
