The Dangers of a Feminist Perspective on A Farewell to Arms Hemingway's portrayal of Catherine Barkley in A Farewell to Arms is the subject of much debate. I disagree with Judith Fetterly that Catherine is "too idealistic, too selfless and generous. Catherine's death was the most fitting conclusion to the story. Hemingway's Catherine Barkley may be a stereotype on the surface, but she is a character much more experienced and stronger." under. In the first meeting with Henry, Hemingway highlights Catherine's main flaws. She is shown to us as not emotionally stable. He tells Henry, "We're going to have a strange life" (27). for us, who usually don't believe that you can know that you will have any kind of life with whoever you just met. This is a time of war, however, and Catherine knows more than we do. Surely she knows more than Henry She knows that it is a strange time and that the loss is a reality Since she is aware of the constant real threat of loss, this leads her to face everything as if life is going to end very soon understandable method of defense against an end uncertain. Her knowledge is greater than his about the pains of war. Another of her seemingly erratic early actions is the way she slapped his face for kissing her, then turned around and asked him to kiss her. Not only is this behavior perfectly understandable, but it shows an awareness of human nature. It's understandable because in normal times it wouldn't have been acceptable for her to kiss him so soon. However, we are in times of war, so it is not realistic to apply the same rules. Everything has a greater sense of urgency. I also think Catherine knows the reward is sweet... middle of paper... rude. I think seeing Catherine from a feminist point of view can be very dangerous. Although she is very affectionate, she is not that ridiculous. He simply works to make their relationship work. He doesn't always think about his own needs, but this is impossible to do in order to maintain a relationship. He's not altruistic but he's not selfish either. I think Hemingway portrays her very realistically as a woman in love during a war. Works Cited Fetterley, Judith. The Resistant Reader: A Feminist Approach to American Fiction. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1978.Hemingway, Ernest. A farewell to arms. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995.Spofford, William K. “Beyond the Feminist Perspective: Love in a Farewell to Arms.” Fitzgerald/Hemingway Annual 1978. Eds. Matthew J. Bruccoli and Richard Layman. Detroit: Gale Research, 1979. 307-12.