The thickness and length of Catherine’s and Frederic’s hair symbolizes as protection. Catherine’s hair resembles a protective layer from the world. When walking in the streets or not alone, Catherine keeps her hair pinned up in a bun. The bun is a symbol of openness to the world. However, when her hair travels down to her shoulders and covers her ears, she feels sheltered from the world. She thinks that if she has that layer then no one will see the secrets in her life. The hair gives her a sense that she is the only one in the world. Catherine’s shield like hair helps her forget about the baby that she thinks will ruin her relationship with Frederic. Also, she now does not have to worry about the world’s problems and mistakes. An author mentions, …show more content…
She wants to show how she is completely open for their relationship, and that she does not have any untold secrets hidden from Frederic. Catherine’s hair not only provides protection for her, but also Frederic. As told in the novel, Frederic imagines Catherine’s hair as the tents he stayed in the war. (Hemingway 98). When in the war, Frederic’s only safe place or shelter was in the tents. Even though Frederic chose to not remember the war, he did want to remember the one safe place he had during the bombs and the killing. The tents gave him a time and a place to think about Catherine, and as long as Catherine is in his thoughts then he is the happiest man on Earth. The hair is a protective layer for Catherine and Frederic from the outside …show more content…
Frederic’s beard allows him to feel manly, and gives him a safe haven. During Frederic’s and Catherine’s time in the mountains waiting on their baby to come, Frederic would shadow box with a full beard. (Hemingway 266). The beard is a layer of defense not only in shadow boxing but life in general. The beard gives him a sense of manly hood and strength for him to protect Catherine. Frederic desires to keep Catherine beside him, and the only way to do that in his mind is to protect her and watch over her. The beard leads him believing he can protect Catherine in any situation; it gives him a sense of confidence. In addition, lounging around comforting Catherine through her last weeks of pregnancy, Frederic’s beard allowed him to feel lazy. The beard is like a blanket swallowing him up into its warmth and comfort. The beard is a disguise for Frederic. One might say that he is a more feminine then most men because of his tendency to care for and give to others. The beard enables him to add more masculine to his appearance and personality. The beard is also a symbol of change, a change to renovate Frederic’s looks. He does not want anyone to recognize him and relate him to the war. For Frederic, the war is behind him, and he does not want anything to remind him of it, even his looks. When Frederic grew his beard, he looked completely different, accomplishing his aspiration to not remember the man he used to be. The beard