Self Absorption in A Farewell to Arms Catherine Barkley and Frederick Henry, the main characters of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, are two of the most self-centered characters I have ever encountered. Frederick Henry only thinks about what he wants while Catherine only cares about what Frederick thinks and wants. They constantly think only of themselves, which is why I believe it was good that the child died. They are too self-absorbed to think about anyone else. Shortly after meeting Catherine, Frederick attempts to bed her. Complimenting his hair, admitting she had every right to slap him, and holding her hand, he uses these words and actions to get a kiss, the first step towards his goal. He doesn't stop to think that she might still be grieving the loss of her son and therefore should take it in stride. Instead, he dives into trying to get her into bed without thinking about how she might feel. When he is injured and in the hospital, he asks the nurses to pay attention to him even though they are not ready for a wounded soldier. He gets angry because they don't want to do anything without the doctor's permission. They were trying to do their job and he just made it harder for them. He also didn't notice that Catherine was getting tired from working so much. All he saw was that they could spend time together and so he didn't think she could wear herself out. It was only with a lot of conviction that he finally realized that he needed some time off. Catherine didn't even realize she was getting tired from how absorbed she was in Frederick. She put her needs and wants before his and believed that if she did and said what she wanted, then he would love her and stay with her. “I'll do what you want and say what you want and then I'll be a big success, right?” (Hemingway, 105). When she finally tells him she's pregnant, she's more worried about how he'll take the news than how it will affect her. "It doesn't worry me, but I'm afraid of worrying you." (137). Once she starts showing up, she doesn't want him to look at her because she's ashamed of how she looks. “She was starting to get a little big on the baby and didn't want me to see her.” (266). She also refused to marry because she was pregnant and fat. "I'll marry you as soon as I'm skinny again." (294). This desire for Frederick to remain beautiful is shown many times in the book. In those days it was said that drinking alcohol would keep the child small. This should have been good for women with small hips, but Catherine, who hardly drank before becoming pregnant, appears to drink more than necessary during pregnancy. “The doctor says the beer will do me good and keep it small.” (291). She used this excuse often in the rest of the book: "The doctor said I had rather narrow hips and it's for the best if we keep young Catherine small." (294). Even though she drinks more beer than necessary, she is very reluctant to eat because it would make her gain weight. "Could I have a candy bar? Or is it too close to lunch? I'm always hungry." (297). This shows how she is more concerned about her appearance than her son's health. Worrying about the unborn child and being prepared are two of the most important things parents make sure to do before the baby is born. Yet Catherine realizes almost too late that they had no baby items, nor did she know what she needed. "Not many people get to my time without baby things... That's what I'll do tomorrow. I'll find what's needed." (308). It is ridiculous that she has already planned what she will do with herself after the baby is born, but she hardly thinks about what to do for the baby. "...after she's born and I'm skinny again, I, 1929.