World war 1 has made changes in the world, and towards how one would think, read, and wright. Two novels, A Farewell to Arms and Everything is Illuminated. Have very similar and very different ideas of writing. Comparing the two will give you an idea of how people would visualize and live then and now.
Gruesome reality of war. When living in the suspense between life or death, everyone has to defend for themselves. “War is behavior with roots in the single cell of the primeval seas. Eat whatever you touch or it will eat you.” (Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune). In the novel A farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway we see Lieutenant Fredric Henry have many experienced with this theme. Henry's shooting of the innocent engineer for rejecting to help pull out the car from the mud makes the reader deliberate about the darkness of the cold reality of war. Considering the violent act that Henry was brought upon doesn’t fit with his persona, and how it occurred in a setting that steals it of its moral significance. The killing of the engineer appears reasonable because it is an unavoidable by-product of the true violence and selfishness of the reality of war. The decisions you choice have to be cruel remembering the number one rule to surviving war is selfishness. As Frank Herbert states “Eat whatever you touch or it will eat you” goes hand in hand with Henry’s choice. The novel overall gives a great representations of the conflict's numb heartless and violent mayhem.
Love & Family. If love makes the world go round, did the world stop during the War? “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each others life.” (Richard Bash). In the novel Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, we see that the Grandfather has many experiences with finding love at difficult times. Grandfather Alex has never forgiven himself after the incident of the death of his best friend. He was in World war II when the Nazis came into town, lined up everyone, and asked who the Jews were. Grandfather pointed fingers to save himself and his family. "I saw Herschel and he saw me and we stood next to each other because that is what friends do in the presence of evil or love" (pg. 248). Grandfather obviously did not want to betray his best friend, Herschel was considered family. But he had to protect over his loved ones. The love of his wife and child caused him the death of his best friend. In the two novels A Farewell to Arms and Everything is Illuminated they come across the true selfishness of war, The line crossing life over death. Lieutenant Fredric Henry and Grandfather, both in war. Have to make various decisions if they want to survive. Lieutenant Henry’s comprehension of how sincere his love for Catherine is outbalances any issue for the void of theoretical ideals such as honor, enabling him to flee the war and seek her out. Grandfather has to decided between the life of his best friend over himself and his family. But the love of his child and wife overpowered and caused the death of his best friend. When facing the grim reality of war, what one does to survive, is to have faith in their friends, find love and have faith in a dream.
A Farewell to Arms has a lot of common stereotypical male roles. Belligerent drinking,violence, and committing heroic acts, although as the reader continues their stereotypes disappear and you begin to see that the characters are only human. They feel pain when someone they love passes. Although the common theme of masculinity takes a big part in this novel, men tend to be more superior, and have greater roles. Women also have great stereotypes, they are all either nurses or prostitutes. They are to be characterized as gentle, weak, and to aspire to be a stereotypical housewife. Although the main female role Catherine Barkley, she is much more then just the protagonists love interest. She is a courageous young women, who is the ideal female role model in the novel. However she does aspire to marriage occasionally "And why didn’t you marry?" "I don’t know. I was a fool not to." (pg .55-56). throughout the novel Catherine tends to turnaround on the idea of marriage. She continually finds reasons not to get legally married to Henry. Everything is Illuminated has fairy any female roles, aside from Alex’s mother who does not have a fairly large role in the novel. Most of the characters are mostly about men. In Alex's culture of being Ukrainian, he is expected to be a man of masculinity and or a ladies man. “i have many girls” (1.1).Both novels have a very stereotypical idea for how male roles are, strong and masculine. Being the hero of the story and protecting the lives of people they love.
Lieutenant Rinaldi is Lieutenant Henry's Italian surgeon roommate. He is considered in the text that he is a ladies man considering he sleeps around with a lot of women and an alcoholic. Unlike Henry, Rinaldi does not have strong beliefs in romance. Instead he announces himself with every women he meets, constant visits to the local whorehouse, Henry later realizes his friend has most likely contracted syphilis. Slight homosexuality was implied in the text by continuously calling Henry “Baby”, kissing him, and mostly idolizing on him. The priest, the priest of the grouping is marked by his power to maintain in faith in god, dealing with the war. He is a good willed man, socially stoic. He is also like a mentor to the soldiers, like Henry in particular. The reader can see that his faith in religion is strong when the major says “All thinking men are atheists” (pg. 8). it frustrates him, because he feels he can find faith in dark times, especially in the war. When Henry confesses to the priest that he does not acknowledge god, that he fears, and does not love him. He admits that he does not love often. "Yes. . .You do. What you tell me about in the nights. That is not love. That is only passion and lust. When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve." (pg. 72). Alexander Perchov lives in the Ukraine with his family. In the beginning of the novel, Alex comes across super cocky by telling the reader about himself in the very first paragraph of the book: “I have many girls.” (1.1). Alex also has a very strong perspective on himself, giving in great detail about his great hair and "aristocratic smile" (1.8), and a stomach that is fat yet strong. He also has very ignorant strong misinterpretations on other cultures. "I had the opinion that Jewish people were having shit between their brains" (1.5). As you continue reading his persona becomes more inviting, and he turns out a lot smarter and nicer then he presents himself to be. The well-regarded rabbi, he is the Rabbi of the Upright Synagogue in Trachimbrod. He is a very strong will powered man and is very devoted to his spiritual beliefs. "Who is the Rabbi the General asked and the Rabbi elevated his hands." (29.86). He is one of the few people who raises his hand truthfully during the Nazi interrogation. He lost his life for what he believed in. He is also quite obnoxious when dealing with his faith. He believes that people should pray by shouting to convey their spiritual desperation. Lieutenant Rinaldi and Alexander Perchov have very similar character attributes when it comes to personality. They are both fairly arrogant when it comes to women, although Alexander only jokes about having plenty of women, yet Rinaldi has many affairs. Their sense of humor is kind of different. Rinaldi makes slight jokes towards his friends in a romantic way, and Alex's humor comes off as argent and selfish. The two main religious characters in both novels are The priest and the rabbi. They both have very strong religious morals, and always puts religion first. The priest shows people to believe in god, and to love him when in dark times. The rabbi died for what he believed in. The difference between both characters is that the priest remains more humble as the rabbi is obnoxious with religion.
The two books have its similarity’s and differences, but we can see how the war has changed the world and how we live today.
