The Metaphor Of Catherine's Death: Re-reading A Farewell To Arms In Terms Of The Feminism

IntroductionHemingway is a colossus in American literature, and he is always highly praised for his simple but powerful understatement. His writing style has great influence on many later writers. In his works, A Farewell to Arms stands out conspicuously for its tragic story which impresses people greatly. However, in recent years some feminists question Hemingway's works from the feministic point. In this thesis I will discuss this famous novel in terms of feminism and show that it is not a touching love story but a metaphor which hides the author's enmity and fear of women.The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter discusses the author's objectification and marginalization of the heroin. The second chapter discusses the hero's egocentrism and male-chauvinism. The third chapter discusses the attitude of the male characters toward the other minor women characters in the novel. In the last chapter I will discuss the metaphor of Catherine's death and come to the conclusion that this novel is a "resentful cryptogram" against women.Chapter One Catherine Barkley: The Objectification of the HeroinThis chapter discusses the author's objectification of the heroin. The first part analyzes the male characters' attitude toward the death of the heroin: a woman's death is seen as quitting her obligation to her man. The second part discusses how Catherine voluntarily takes upon herself the responsibility for her own pregnancy to relieve the hero of the blame. The third part discusses how the heroin refuses a decent marriage in order to make the hero free. The fourth part discusses the heroin's lack of an independent personality because ofher devoting love to the man.Chapter two Frederic Henry: The Male-chauvinism of the HeroThis chapter discusses the hero's selfishness and egoism in his relations with a female. The first part discusses the hero's negative response to her lover's depression in a hotel room. The second part discusses the hero's angered reaction to Catherine's refusal to his attempt of kissing her. The third part discusses the hero's insensitivity to his lover's fatigue. The last part analyzes the sources of the hero's claimed love, which are the heroin's beautiful appearance, submission and self-sacrificing.Chapter ThreeThe Minor Characters: The Antagonism toward Women This chapter discusses the author's antagonism toward women by studying the minor characters. First I will discuss the soldiers' attitudes toward whores, seeing them as pieces of meat in the market. Then I will discuss the hero's attitudes to his lover's fellow nurses, hating women who have authority and feeling comfortable with submissive women. Lastly I will discuss the soldier's vulgar treatment of the two girls they rescue in the retreat.Chapter FourConclusion: The Metaphor of Catherine's Death This chapter is the conclusion. I will firstly state my conclusion from the former three chapters, namely, the author's enmity and fear of women. I will secondly discuss the author's attitude toward women in his real life. In the last part I will discuss the metaphor of the heroin's death at the end of the story: it reveals the author's enmity and fear of women.