Themes in A Farewell to Arms Although there were several themes in this book, one main theme seemed to dominate the story. This theme is about the importance of love and loss in a man-woman relationship. These two lovers were so absorbed in each other that they didn't need anyone else in their lives. Wouldn't you like to take a trip somewhere alone, honey, hang with men and ski? No. Why should I? I think sometimes you want to see other people besides me. Do you want to see other people? No. Me neither. p.297. This conversation shows that Catherine loves him so much that she is willing to be alone just so she can be happy. At the same time, Mr. Henry would probably want to go skiing but would never dream of leaving Catherine alone. Death wins over love. It is very dangerous. The nurse entered the room and closed the door. I sat outside in the lounge. Everything had disappeared inside me. I didn't think. I couldn't think. I knew she would die and I prayed she wouldn't. Don't let her die. Oh, God, please don't let her die. I will do anything for you if you don't let her die... p.330. Hemingway continued for an entire paragraph as she begged God. This is how she manages to show that Mr. Henry loves her more than anything, more than life itself. In a way, I think they loved each other too much. They didn't go out often or do anything that involved other people. They were always together. This is an unhealthy lifestyle. They were creating their own fortress and isolating themselves from the world. My life was full of everything, I said. Now, if you're not with me, I have nothing in the world. P. 257. This quote further supports the idea that they are isolating themselves from the world. Because they were so cut off from the outside world, Mr. Henry has an even harder time returning to the reality of life after her death. This theme of man and woman isolated in love and ultimately losing them to dark death is universal. The most profound aspect of this book would be its ageless symbolism. The free, alcoholic life that Catherine and Mr. Henery shared could be compared to the life free of consequences and heavy investments of the 1920s. The product of Catherine and Mr. Henry's lifestyle was a dead baby. The result of the overinvestment of the 1920s was the Great Depression. So the child symbolizes depression. Another point to consider was that Mr. Henry was a deserter. He left the army to be with Catherine. Desertion was illegal and he paid the price by losing what he loved most, Catherine. Rain was connected to pain or sorrow. He drank to dull this pain or pain. Rain is wet and wet is connected to alcohol. We had each drunk from one of the bottles and I took my bottle with me, went and lay down on the hay and looked out the narrow window at the damp countryside. p.217. In this scene, he thought about Cat and decided it would be best to drink to dispel his problems. When Hemingway said the earth was wet, it usually meant that Mr. Henry was drunk. After Catherine and the baby died in hospital, Mr. Henry walked home in the rain. After a while I went out, left the hospital and returned to the hotel in the rain. page 332. He had just suffered a great loss and had dealt with it the only way he knew how; through alcohol. While drinking wasn't directly mentioned at this point, we can still assume that he would only make this connection because of the sunset in the rain. This book contains many examples of symbolism and they all highlight the fact that there is always a terrible price to pay for weak actions or blind love. The choice of words and the ordering of.