A Farewell to Arms, written by Ernest Hemingway, was a typical love story: a Romeo and Juliet placed against the odds. In this novel, Romeo was Frederick Henry and Juliet was Catherine Barkley. Their love had to survive the obstacles of World War I. The background of war-torn Italy added to the tragedy of the love story. The war affected the emotions and values of each character. The love between Catherine and Frederick had to withstand long separations, life-threatening situations, and the uncertainty of each other's condition. This novel was a beautiful love story of two people who needed each other in a period of complete upheaval.
             Frederick Henry was an American who served as a lieutenant in the Italian army to a group of ambulance drivers. At the start of the novel, Frederick was a drunk who traveled from one house of prostitution to the next and yet he was discontent with his unsettled lifestyle. Further in the novel Frederick became involved with Catherine Barkley, an English volunteer nurse who served in Italy. She was very experienced with love and loss. She lost a fiancé in the war. Frederick slowly fell in love with her and in his love for her, he found commitment.
             A Farewell to Arms was set in World War I where Italy was battling with Austria. In 1916, Henry was granted a leave, but returned shortly after squandering his money. He learned the British nurses were stationed in the area hospital and that was how he met Catherine. They were instantly attracted to each other. They fell in love and for once Frederick didn't feel lonely and insecure. It was time for him to go to the front line and Catherine gave him a St. Anthony
             medal for protection. Henry got wounded and transferred to a hospital Catherine worked at and she volunteered her nights to spend with him. Frederick returns to war and things were terrible in Italy. He decided
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