A Farewell to Arms

Book 5 opens in the fall of 1917. They are renting a house in the mountains of Montreux, the place Catherine had chosen earlier. They enjoy their secluded cabin, rarely seeing anyone except for Mrs. Guttingen, who brings them their meals. They go for walks in the cold mountain air and find it invigorating. But Frederic is aware of the war that still rages on—the papers say thing things are going very badly, and it wakes him at night. They go into the town sometimes. Even though most of the big hotels are closed, most of the shops are open and eager for customers.

As they walk about town, Frederic tells Catherine: “Oh darling, I love you so” (252). His use of “darling” mimics Catherine’s language. Catherine also has a bit of a role reversal when she decides to drink beer with Frederic since the doctor says that “beer will […] keep [the baby] small” (252). She mentions how the doctor says she has narrow hips, so it would be good to deliver a small baby. When Frederic is concerned, she brushes away his concerns. Then she says they’ll get married after she gives birth, so then she can be an American.