FATE, LOSS, AND EXISTENTIAL STRUGGLE IN A FAREWELL TO ARMS

Abstract

Abstract: This article examines the themes of fate, loss, and existential struggle in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. The novel portrays how war and circumstance shape human experience, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and the inevitability of suffering. Through the experiences of Lieutenant Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley, Hemingway explores how individuals confront mortality, grief, and uncontrollable external forces. The study argues that the novel presents life as a delicate balance between agency and fate, where personal choices are often overshadowed by events beyond human control, highlighting the existential challenges faced in times of conflict.