Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms: An Exploration of American Exceptionalism

Abstract

The present paper aims to posit that in his acclaimed novel, A Farewell to Arms, Ernst Hemingway employs an anti-war framework strategically to weave a deeper narrative that underscores an underlying reverence for America and dissects key passages, character interactions, and thematic elements to unveil the subtle patriotic undertones embedded within the narrative. By scrutinizing the protagonist’s interactions, motivations, and evolving perspectives, the article unravels the intricate relationship between character’s experiences and the novel’s latent celebration of American exceptionalism. While the novel is often regarded as a poignant portrayal of the disillusionment arising from the First World War, the analysis contends that beneath its anti-war veneer lies a subtler narrative thread which aims to subtly idolize America and construct a complex commentary on American identity. By challenging conventional readings of A Farewell to Arms, this article seeks to prompt a reconsideration of the novel’s thematic complexities and invites scholars to explore the interplay between war narratives and nationalistic undercurrents within the context of American literature.