Henry the Code Hero

Hemingway portrays Fredric Henry as a code hero in his essay A Farewell to Arms in several ways. He is a man of action who remains engaged in life instead of wasting time doing nothing. He is hardworking, professional and competent in his duty. Henry is a courageous man who does not show any self-pity. He does not want other people to sympathize with him because he has the courage to face life. His personal dignity increases his courage to face life. This paper reveals three different ways how Henry is a code hero.

Firstly, Henry is a man of action. As an American, he voluntarily joins the Italian army as a soldier during the First World War. Despite the fact that he knew it was a dangerous step, he confidently decided to assume it. He becomes a commander in the ambulance unit. The line of duty he chooses exposes him to great danger as he has to be in the frontline (Roy 12). Henry is scrupulous and industrious in his duty. He checks every ambulance to ensure its functionality before every attack. He encourages his colleagues to join him in visiting the battlefield before the action to familiarize with it. He points out that “We moved slowly but steadily in the rain, the radiator cap of our car almost against the tailboard of a truck that was loaded high, the load covered with wet canvas (Hemingway 30).” He wants everything to be done perfectly for them to win the battle.

Secondly, Henry is a courageous man, and he shows his courage to other people. He suffers severe injuries in the battlefield. However, he does not show any pain or fear. He courageously tries to save his colleague who is severely injured. The severe wounds he suffers in the war made him qualify for distinction medals (2000 24). Henry says that “Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages (Hemingway 14).” He opposes the idea of getting praises and medals that come from Rinaldi. When he finally leaves the battlefield because of the injuries, he reunites with Catherine. He feels comfortable and peaceful to be with her as they wait for new-born. Unfortunately, Catherine dies when giving birth. Henry loses both the baby and her mother. He felt isolated and grieved for some time. However, Henry has the courage to move on with life. He bids Catherine’s body farewell, and walks away courageously. He believes that his will endure the great loss (Tyler 56).

Thirdly, Henry lives a life of sensuous pleasures. He sees women as “objects of sexual pleasure.” He gets into a relationship with Catherine because of sexual desires. Catherine has just lost her fiancée when she meets Henry. She does not know that Henry wants to be with her to satisfy his sexuality (Young 93). In fact, Henry points out that “I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards (Hemingway 26).” The statement reveals that Henry had no feelings for Catherine. His reaction towards her is astonishing. When Catherine proposes a game, Henry responds and pledges his love to Rinaldi, a woman he does not know. The main aim of this response is attached to Henry’s hope for a night of pleasure. He has an active sex drive that makes him continue pledging love even after Catherine who had proposed the game insists that it is over. He describes Catherine’s hair fondly because she agrees to be in his bed (Oliver 43).

In conclusion, Frederic Henry is the code hero in Hemingway’s essay A Farewell to Arms. He is an American, who voluntarily joins the world war to help Italians. As a man of action, he meticulously and industriously works in the frontline. He does not want to gain titles from the battle. Henry is courageous and wants to win in everything he does. He does not have self-pity. He has the courage to help other people when he is severely injured. Henry lives a life of pleasure. He has a sex drive that makes him declare love to a stranger to win a woman so that he can sleep with her.