A Farewell to Arms
Characters
Frederic Henry (Tenente): Frederic Henry is the main character of the novel. He is the one telling the story through a first person narrative, and is also the protagonist. Frederic is an American who became a lieutenant in WWI after joining the Ambulance Corps on the Italian front. He gets awarded for heroic actions and also gets wounded. Frederic meets a nurse Catherine Barkley and falls in love with her during the novel.
Catherine Barkley: Catherine Barkley is a nurse from England stationed in Italy during the war. She is described as very beautiful, especially in depth about her hair. Before falling in love with Frederic she is plagued by her fiancé’s death during the war. She quickly falls in love with Frederic the first time they meet. Catherine is very feminine in her actions towards Frederic. She always wants to please him and be a good wife and to never displease him, which may be because of her fiancé’s death.
Rinaldi: Rinaldi is a dear and close friend of Frederic. Rinaldi is a surgeon in the Italian army and a very good doctor. He can often be found attempting to seduce beautiful women.
The Priest: The Priest is another close friend of Frederic during the war. However, he is made fun of by many of the officers and soldiers of the Italian Army. He is a sincere and intelligent man who often speaks with Frederic about his views on aspects of the war.
Helen Ferguson: Helen Ferguson is another nurse who worked with Catherine and was also friends with Rinaldi and Frederic. Helen dislikes the relationship between Frederic and Catherine because she is looking out for her best friend Catherine and she is also afraid of being alone during the war.
Miss Gage: Miss Gage is a nurse at the American hospital who takes care of Frederic when he was wounded and during his recovery. They became friends as they shared alcoholic drinks and talked throughout his stay.
Miss Van Campen: Miss Van Campen is the older superintendent of the nurses at the American hospital. She has strict rules and is often impatient and disapproves of many things Frederic does. However, she lets things go and tolerates him.
Dr. Valentini: Dr. Valentini is an Italian doctor who operates on Frederic’s knee in the American hospital. Valentini tells Frederic that he could operate on his knee the next day, where the doctors that worked there said six months. Frederic chose Dr. Valentini and the surgery went well.
Count Greffi: Count Greffi is an old ninety four year old man who has become friends with Frederic while he has been in Italy. Count lives comfortably at his old age and is in very good health. Frederic thinks highly of him and may someday wish to be like him at that age.
Ettore Moretti: Ettore Moretti is an American soldier from San Francisco who fights for the Italian army. He travels around with Frederic in part of the novel.
Ralph Simmons: A friend of Frederic’s who is an opera singer. He helps Frederic by taking him in after he escapes from the war and gives him clothes to use as he tries to get out of the country.
Emilio: A bartended Frederic knows from a hotel in Italy. Emilio Helps Frederic and Catherine escape from Italy to Switzerland by giving them his rowboat to use on the lake.
Bonello: Bonello is a cab driver for the same Ambulance Corps that Frederic belongs to.