*When Henry returns to the villa, what is the mood? What has been happening since he was away?
*How has Rinaldi changed? How has the priest changed?
*Why do the Italians prepare to retreat? What is Henry's role? Describe the actual retreat.
*Piani and Aymo call themselves anarchists and socialists. What do they mean?
*Why does Henry go across the bridge first? What does that show about him?
*Why is he angry when he sees the German staff car and bicyclists?
*Who gets killed? Describe Henry's reaction.
*How does Henry almost get killed? How does he escape?
*What does Henry think about as he lies in the train car? How has he changed? What is his feeling about the war at this time?
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ReplyDeleteThe mood of book three is definitely a departure from the lighter tone that most of book two had. When Henry returns to the villa, there is a somber overtone. Most people are worried about, but expecting, the threat of losing the war. The major is tired of the fighting and his outward appearance reflects this. Even Rinaldi is feeling the effects of the war. He worked nonstop for so long and is tired and stressed. We can see this from more than just being told upfront by a few of the characters, but also by Rinaldi's actions; he is quieter, less inclined to make fun, and temperamental. During the retreat, the writing keeps its heavier mood by adding a tension. At the end of part three, from what I understand, Henry has now become disheartened with the war and wants nothing to do with it. This is a major change from his previous feelings of continuing with the war and prevailing; he didn't really believe in any side giving up, and yet, now he is. But has he officially deserted at this point?
ReplyDeleteI just finished the book and I have to say that I was not as pleased as I expected to have been. I expected the ending to have a more dramatic finish, but instead both the baby and wife die. The book overall was deep I thought and had kind of a sad mood to it. The constant talk of war and hardships really built up that mood. Dont get me wrong, love was obviously a important feeling in the book as well. I dont know how many people I would recommend this book to
ReplyDeleteI just finished and, for the most part, I really loved this book. It's probably a new favorite for me, but not as much as I thought it was going to be earlier on. I was a bit bored from Switzerland onward. There wasn't a whole lot of conflict or anything very exciting. From the ending I can see that the war aspect of the novel was just to add to relationship between Henry and Catherine. When that part of the novel was over, everything was focused on just the pair together, which ended up being a bit of a flat topic since it had already been explored throughout the novel. While reading I noticed how self-conscious Catherine was about her pregnant figure. This would only be natural for her in this time period and her situation. She wasn't married and had to reassure herself and Henry that she would slim down after giving birth, probably so that Henry wouldn't leave her for someone thinner, and thus, "more attractive." The symbol of rain throughout the novel came at times of distress and sadness. There was rain when Henry returned to the villa in book 3, coming home to a downtrodden atmosphere. When Henry and Catherine left for Switzerland under the threat of Henry being arrested the following morning, they had to leave in a storm. Catherine's fear of the rain came from seeing herself and Henry dying in it. Although she didn't die, literally, in the rain, when Henry left the hospital after Catherine's death, he had to walk through the rain back to his hotel. Poor Henry :[
ReplyDeleteAs I read through book three, it carried a very depressing tone from the beginning to the end. The characters are sick of war and they are wondering if it will ever end, they are also concerned about loosing the war. I also noticed that when Henry jumped into the river it was symbolism. “ Anger washed away in the river along with any obligation.” In my opinion, this is just saying how Henry’s past was washed away and he is starting a new life with different thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe end of the book was expected. There were several instances with foreshadowing. When I first started the book i was very confused. I think that Catherine got what she deserved with her baby. She really didn't do too much to care for herself while she was pregnant. I feel bad that Henry will be all alone:{ Did Rinaldi survive? Does anybody Know? I really don't remember reading anything about him after Henry left.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that whenever Henry says that it was raining, there almost always is an unfortunate event about to happen. It goes back to when Catherine said that she was afraid of the rain. When Henry and Catherine had to escape from Italy, the beginning of the chapter started off by saying that there was a storm, meaning that the event that was about to happen was worse than usual.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too surprised about the ending of the book. I was thrown a little off guard that both the baby and Catherine died because I thought that only one person was going to die because of all the foreshadowing in the book. I did feel sympathy towards Henry, but I never really cared for Catherine. Catherine didn't want to have the baby and she definitely didn't seem to be careful while she was pregnant. This shows that Ferguson was right when she told Catherine and Henry that their relationship would never last.
ReplyDeletei like the metaphor of rain that Hemingway portrays throughout the novel. Most people when they think of rain think of sadness or despair. The third book really puts it forth to show that rain is a sign of bad things to come. Out of all the books i liked the third one the most, i was not to impressed by this novel but the third book had a lot of emotion and really gave the reader a sense of what Henry was feeling. i like the depressing tone that was set throughout this book, but the ending was expected. The whole book was focused on Henry and Catherine's relationship. When Catherine started to lack in her self maintenance while pregnant the ending was clear. Leaving us in a start of depression and an ending of depression, which i was impressed to see in this book.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the three people that mentioned Catherine's inability to care for herself while pregnant: I didn't think that she did a bad job at all. I am a little unsure of what you are talking about and what she did that made you think she was not being a good mother. Yes, she drank alcohol but it was not known then that it was not healthy for the unborn baby. Catherine's doctor told her to drink beer to keep the baby small. So can you really blame her? Many things were still unknown at that time, so I do not believe that Catherine is solely to blame, if at all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone about the rain, nothing good has happened when its raining. I also agree about how from the first two books to the third one, the mood has changed dramatically. Rinaldi who was always so light hearted has become quite a bit more solemn and serious. I just got a sad vibe from the priest. This might just be my feelings, but i feel that book three was ridiculously boring and like it was just there as filler. Yes, I understand that it was in this book that they Italians began their retreat and everything but the people Henry was with the whole time like Aymo and Bonello, I thought they seemed so insignificant! Besides the retreat, Henry's escape from the battle police was the only significant part of book three in my opinion. If the book would have just been those two happenings, I think I would have taken just as much away from it.
ReplyDeleteSo I must say that I am very happy that Rinaldi is back in the book! I loved his joyfulness that he projected. However in this book much of his happiness has dissapeared. This dissapointed me quite a bit! To top it off, he thinks he has syphilis! I hope he really doesn't. I have also observed that Henry isn't enjoying himself anymore up at the front, which makes me conclude that he truly loves Cathrine.
ReplyDeleteAlong with what Jenny said, I agree the third book was insignificant up until Henry escapes. The third book has a solemn tone to it, and seems to drag on a bit. When Henry returns back to the front, I noticed his attitude towards the war has changed. Before he fell in love with Catherine, he always wanted to read the paper about what is happening in the war. Now, Henry wants nothing to do with the war and he even runs away. I'm not positive but I have a feeling his relationship with Catherine had an impact on his view of war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenny’s opinion about book three being absolutely boring. I feel like all of the characters are tired of the war. I think the reason that the third book was so unappealing to me was because the relationship between Henry and Catherine was hardly mentioned at all. Another reason that I didn’t enjoy reading the third book was because of the depressing mood of story. Whenever the rain was mentioned in this part of the book it was followed by a bad event. Catherine’s fear of the rain certainly played a role in foreshadowing the multiple bad events.
ReplyDeleteBook Three goes right back to the dark heavy tone of Book One, when Henry returns to the villa it's really sad because the state of everyone there, fatigued and ready for the war to be over. Rinaldi is really worn out and seemed to have lost some of his spunk, and even the priest is acting tired and detached. Though I'm going to disagree with some of the comments about Book Three and how it was really boring. Personally I thought this Book was the most interesting of the five, I was actually interested from the beginning to the end. The way the retreat takes place and how sad everyone is and how you can just picture cars, wagons, and people just crushed together going down a road trying to avoid the war and stay alive. I think that when Henry goes across the bridge first it shows that he is brave, a leader, and that the actually cares about the people he is with, being willing to go first and risk his life. Then when Henry is able to escape being killed by the Battle police, it is a huge relief! Though by the way Henry was studying the officers and their way of conducting interrogations I could tell he was going to make a break for it. Finally while he was in the train car, Henry rethinks his position on war. He sort of recaps what it was like for him during the retreat, how the war had become ugly and how his obligation to the war was over along with the anger he felt towards it. Henry just became uninterested in the war, without a care about what happened; he was done. I think during that moment in the train car everything about this book changed because Henry decided to look at everything in a new way.
ReplyDeleteI really think Henry's character built in book three. You really saw him as a leader and he really seemed to change. You could see how angry he was when he couldn't get the amubulances where they needed to be, even though many others had failed too. I was impressed that he was able to escape from the battle police, and very relieved. I thought it was odd how the whole book seemed to be totally based about the war and then in the end he wasn't interested in the war at all. He did change greatly from the beginning of the book, but I wonder how his life will change after Catherine and his son died.
ReplyDeleteAll of book three was, in my opinion, very dark. It's not that it was sinister, it's just that it wasn't very happy either. Poor Rinaldi doesn't seem to be doing too well, which is a shame because I really like him. This book kind of confused me. Hemmingway writes things so baldly and without feeling sometimes that it surprises me and I miss things that happen and have to reread them. Like when Aymo died, I didn't even realize he died at first and had to reread it. And was their any significance as to why he had to be laid uphill?
ReplyDeleteHannah, I think he had to be laid uphill to stop the blood from flowing too quickly, but he was dead anyway. And I agree that I feel like I miss things also, like when the battle police take hold of Henry, he was with Piani right before this happened. Then he made a break for it into the river and Hemingway constantly says "We." So I was confused and I was wondering if Piani had escaped with Henry, but then they never mention Piani again I believe after book three. It would have been nice to know that fate of the others before the end of the book, like whatever did happen to Bonello. That is one thing that I wish Hemingway could have made more clear to the reader.
ReplyDeleteBook three existed only to tell of Henry’s return to the front and of the war. It was completely contrary to book two in a sense that book three dealt with war and book two dealt with love. I believe both love and war are the two most omnipotent themes that run throughout the novel. Another reoccurring theme I am starting to notice is that of masculinity. I first noticed this when Henry chose Dr.Valentini to perform his operation. It reoccurred in this book when Henry shot the escaping general and Bonello fatally went and shot him in the head. I believe Henry indulges in his sexuality and masculinity and it shows in some of his actions. I believe that the killing of Aymo provided all the soldiers with the grim reality of war. The scary complications that can occur during war then scared off Bonello because he was afraid to meet face to face with death. Both Henry and Piani thought this was a foolish thing for Bonello to do but maybe it is a foreshadowing of the fate of these two men. I also found Hemingway’s style of writing a bit peculiar because once again he switched from first person to second person. The second person tone Hemingway uses is a type of story telling manner. The extensive use of “You” helps to heighten the readers fears and thought on war. I think it also offers an opportunity to really jump into Henry’s mind. I did tend to think book three was a type of filler for Hemingway, but I now realize I only thought that way because I found it less exciting than the other books.
ReplyDeleteLike many others have said, book three takes on a much more dreary tone. Before I said I didn’t like book two that well, but after starting book three the second book seems like a great book. Honestly, when reading the third book I can’t seem to grasp anything that’s going on no matter how hard I try. Maybe the book will stay in the same pattern it has been it which would mean the fourth book would be a little more interesting. In the third book it seems like Catherine was never in the picture, and it seems a lot more get to the point than the second book. Although I don’t really prefer Catherine’s character, I’ve realized that I’m waiting for the point in the book where she comes back.
ReplyDeleteThere was a certain quote that I read and found interesting and revealing. When the priest and Henry were talking about the war and the change in mood, Henry said:
ReplyDelete“They were beaten to start with. They were beaten when they took them off from their farms and put them in the army. That is why the peasant has wisdom, because he is defeated from the start. Put him in power and see how wise he is.”
First of all, it confirmed that many of the wars are, as some may call them, “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.” Usually, those in the middle and lower classes suffer from wars the most, leading them to have totally different perspectives than those in the upper class. Second of all, the quote hinted that power, at times, detaches one from the emotions and pains of others, for he/she does not have to experience the pain. No one can ever understand or experience a certain situation or condition unless he/she is put in that same environment. As much as people may try and convince themselves that seeing and/or hearing about a situation is enough to understand and be empathetic, one is, in fact, ignorant to that subject area. Power, or in some cases money, affects one’s mentality and thought pattern to the point where he/she’s capability for social interactions with the public/norm is limited.
This novel shows a side of war that is not often portrayed in other books. Glory, honor and dying for the good of the country are common topics that soldiers are enthusiastic about in novels. Henry says “I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice and the expression in vain. We had heard them. Sometimes standing in the rain almost out of earshot, so that only the shouted words came through, and had read them, on proclamations that were slapped up by billposters over other proclamations… There were many words that you could not stand to hear and finally only the names of places had dignity. Certain numbers were the same way and certain dates and these with the names of the places were all you could say and have them mean anything.” (pg 185) Henry does not care about the glory of fighting in a battle and the only words that mean anything to him are numbers and names. This shows that he has no emotional attachment to the war because the only words that matter to him during war time are facts like numbers and names. This novel also shows the brutality of war, which other novels portray too, but this novel shows violence between soldiers fighting in the same army. The part where Henry shot the engineering officer in chapter 29 really stuck out to me. The engineering officers ran when Henry ordered them to cut brush because they wanted to keep moving and didn’t want to help. I understand that Henry shot at them because he had ordered them to halt and they disrespected his authority by saying that he was not their officer and that they didn’t have to listen to him, but the part where Bonello shot the engineering officer twice in the head to make sure he was dead was totally uncalled for. I also think that Henry should have just let them go because whether they were dead or ran away didn’t matter because they were not going to help either way. One more instance of violence that caught my attention was after Henry re-joined the retreat and was pulled aside for being an officer. Then they were killing the officers because of their rank. Soldiers were blaming the officers for the defeat of the Italians and were turning on the people who lead them into battle. Luckily Henry was able to get away by running into the river and floating downstream.
ReplyDeleteBook three has to be my favorite. It is full of action that hasn't been present in the previous two. During this Henry demonstraits that he is a smart, brave, and quick thinking soldier. Which is interesting because in the beginning of the book he belittled his career or job in the war. I also thought it was cool in this section that the author brought Cathrine back into it when Henry and his comrade were talking about going back to their wives or life's without wives. I think that is very indicative of the time period because many men felt they got the will to survive from the women at home. Because of this and the growing action it has to be my favorite part and has won my interest in the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you that book three was my least favorite so far. The mood has changed dramatically from love and happiness to war and seriousness. Everyone just seemed to go into a warlike trance without happiness. It was really boring in my opinion. However, during book three the author shows how Henry is couragous and brave as he leads his men during the retreat. He was the first one to cross the bridge even though it could have been rigged by bombs. Also at the end of book three Hemingway shows that Henry is also smart as he escapes from the battle police. He knows what to do and is able to do it even after have surgery on his leg. The forshadowing of rain comes to play in this book as well. Nothing good happens when it is raining. For example, when Henry left Cathrine it was raining and all throughout the retreat it was raining. Rain is definitely not a good thing in this novel right now.
ReplyDeleteIn book three the entire mood of the novel has changed dramatically. In book two love is in the air. It focuses on the love and compassion in the relationship between Catherine and Henry. The third book focuses on war. Not only has the mood changed but also the people. It seems as if war has deflated some of Rinaldi's personality. When he makes fun of the priest he isn't as cheerful as before. I felt that the shooting of the engineer was so out of the blue. I didn't expect to see that kind of anger from Henry. In the previous books Henry did not show any emotion other than love. I did not feel as if the officer was justified for the punishment he received.
ReplyDeleteIn book three, Henry almost gets killed. Luckily, Henry has amazing street smarts, and he escapes easily. However, he was incredibly close to drowning in the river when he almost lost his strength. But I think that jumping into the river to escape the shooting was a very smart move. And I was impressed when he thought to get on the train secretly. It is clear that Henry knows what he is doing. While he is thinking on the train, it is clear that he is ready to be done with the war. He had never liked the war, but I think his oppinion is getting stronger and he is thinking more that there is no point in fighting and that he should give up. All he wanted was to be with Catherine and he didn't even know when he would see her again. Not to mention she is carrying his child. I hope he gets back to her and can be there when his child is born.
ReplyDeleteIn Book 3, Henry heads back to the front. When he gets there he finds that it is a bit different. It seems a bit more gloomy and sad, and everyone seems to be tired. Rinaldi is not as vibrant and happy as he used to be. It seems that everyone just wants to go home and have the war end, (the sergeants that Henry shot for running away, Bonello leaving the group). I think Henry’s dedication to Catherine really shows in Book 3. He does some daring things, mainly, I think, so that he can return to Catherine in one piece. He still cares about the war, and I think that is why he was mad to see that the German staff car and bicyclists were not meeting any resistance, however, it seems that his main goal is just survival.
ReplyDeleteUpon Henry's return to the villa he was reunited with his friend Rinaldi. The two begin to realize that they have strayed apart from each other within each other's absense. Rinaldi had observed henry as acting "Like a married man", as opposed to rinaldi who is a bit of a loose cannon in terms of interaction with the ladies. Also it appears as though Rinaldi has become more cynical and pessimistic due to the war.
ReplyDeleteEvan Madden
The tone in Book Three is easily more depressing than the first two, probably because the characters are all awaiting the end of the war. After seeing the bicycle troop, Henry and the other drivers decide to head away from the main roads, and are shot at. Aymo is shot and dies, and Henry is surprised to learn that they are being shot at by their own troops. He fears that he is in more danger now than he would be against the enemy. Lying in the train car, Henry begins to think of all that he has lost. He lost his army to return to, many of his men, and some of his friends. Without the will to continue in the war, he feels as though it is now over for him.
ReplyDeleteThis book was definitely my least favorite of them all. To me, it seemed like filler and it was mostly insignificant until Henry's escape. This book was the most serious, due mostly in part to the switch between love and Henry's relationship with Catherine to the dramatic war. Catherine was hardly mentioned at all, and to me that was unappealing. During this book, we also start to see the toll the war is starting to take on the characters. Rinaldi seemed not as cheerful and playful and the priest is more solemn than before. Everyone is tired of the war, which made for a humdrum tone throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the posts of Amanda and Jessica. The third book was most definitely the most depressing and it was my least favorite of the first three. It just seemed to drag on with no real point untill henry's escape. Although the culminating action towards the end was interesting, i think the loss of the Henry and Catherine spark left this book dragging on. I believe the main point of this book was to show that people in general were tiring of the war, which didnt really create compelling literature.
ReplyDeleteI think that towards the end of this book Henry keeps trying to convince himself that war is no longer apart of his life by repeating the thought to himself.
ReplyDeleteIn reality though, I think Henry is internally struggling with what he has witnessed in the war and the guilt of deserting his troop, which he confides a very small amount to Catherine about in later passages.
As much as Henry never liked the war, it became apart of him that he can never completely shake. Telling himself that that part of his life is completely over is more to convince himself rather than to state it as actual fact.