She's Always Just A Woman to Me: An Examination of the Weak Character of Catherine in Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms"

Judith Fetterley is surely correct about Catherine being a weak feminine character who goes against the strong ideals of feminism because, during the novel, Catherine proves to be emotionally weak, doesn't hold firm to her own beliefs, and allows other men to view her as less of a person due to her gender. Working as a nurse during World War I, Catherine demonstrates weak characteristic qualities that emphasize the lack of strength or integrity. Consider a scene where she explains to Henry that she carries around the stick of a "very nice boy" who was originally "going to marry [her]" but was "killed in the Somme" (Hemingway 18). When Henry compliments on Catherine's hair, she asks if he really likes it, and when he replies yes, she bluntly mentions how she was " 'going to cut it all off when [the boy] died.'' (Hemingway 19) While losing someone one cares about to war is truly devastating, it doesn't mean that Catherine can't put her grief aside and try to act stronger than she really is. The fact that Catherine confesses she wanted to cut off all her hair displays her frail emotions and how they are more in charge of her state of mind than sound logic. Henry compliments her in a chivalrous way, and Catherine is still unable to let go of the one she loves, still holding onto the stick of someone who may or may not have loved her as much as she did him. Plus, why would a lovely woman want to shave off her hair in response to one soldier's death? Shouldn't she try to shift the conversation towards a lighter area where she doesn't allow her depressed emotions to spill out? The way with which Catherine handles her ex-lover's death demonstrates a lack of inner strength as further proved by future encounters with others. Helen Ferguson later criticizes Catherine for allowing Henry to desert the Army. She scolds Catherine for having " 'no shame and no honor' " and being " 'as sneaky as he is.'" (Hemingway 247) Catherine simply retaliates, " 'Don't denounce me. You know we like each other.'" (Hemingway 247) As Helen continues to express her outrage, she ends up in tears, and Catherine tries to comfort her saying, " 'I'll be ashamed. Don't cry, Fergy.'" (Hemingway 247) As Helen insults her for staying with her husband, even through his crime of desertion, Catherine doesn't defend herself or her husband as well as she should. A marriage means that both people involved are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to express the power of their love for one another, and that means going above and beyond to defend your spouse when someone berates his decisions. Catherine simply states that she and Henry "like" each other, instead of loving each other. Not using the word "love" may well infer that Catherine may not hold as strong of a passion for Henry as the book might try to emphasize.  And, when Helen cries out of frustration, Catherine instantly folds. She says that she'll be ashamed if it makes Helen feel better. Her response to Helen's outburst shows she doesn't stick firm with her own beliefs, and she can easily adjust to the opinion of others if their own emotions break down as a result of trying to convince her. She should have been stronger and defended her husband and herself more instead of letting her guard down when others emotionally crumble. Furthermore, Catherine emphasizes her own weak persona when she allows other men to openly think of her as less than a woman with values. When Catherine visits the doctor, she pulls on a mask, feeling a little short of breath, and after taking it off, she jokingly says. " 'I'm not going to die now, darling. I'm past where I was going to die...'" (Hemingway 319). More serious than her, the doctor says. " 'You will not do any such foolishness...You would not die and leave your husband.'" (Hemingway 319). Catherine replies. " 'Oh no. I won't die. I wouldn't die. It's silly to die...'" (Hemingway 319). Note that Catherine speaks so quickly about not dying as though she had unjustly objected to something important and she was trying to make up for it. Clearly, the doctor believes Catherine doesn't have a right to die because, as a woman, she fulfills Henry's needs as a wife and person who looks after the house. As far as the doctor is concerned, any death on her part is unacceptable, since she doesn't fight in war or accomplish anything her husband does. In other words, the doctor views Catherine's death as foolish and as less of an important fact of life than the deaths of the men at war. Catherine hastily responds that she won't die, as though she has a choice about her own life and death. Although she holds a good career as a nurse, she apologizes for her own death and allows the doctor and Henry to see her possible death as petty compared to someone who has fought in combat or done something she hasn't been able to do because of her gender. Why should she apologize for her frail physical condition in the first place? Catherine demonstrates she is not as headstrong as she should be, and she emphasizes she doesn't hold the feminist ideals of independence or pride she should clearly hold.