A farewell to arms (PART 1)

Summary

Part 1 introduces the grim setting of World War I on the Italian front. Frederic Henry, an American serving as a lieutenant in the Italian ambulance corps, describes the monotonous yet dangerous life of soldiers amid rain, disease, and death. The atmosphere is bleak and impersonal, reflecting the senselessness of war. Frederic befriends fellow officers, including the cynical Rinaldi, and is introduced to Catherine Barkley, an English nurse grieving the loss of her fiancé. Their early interactions are cautious and emotionally guarded, with Frederic treating the relationship lightly while Catherine reveals deep sorrow. As the fighting intensifies, Frederic is wounded by a mortar shell while eating with soldiers and is sent to a hospital in Milan, marking a turning point in both the war narrative and his personal journey.