Read the following discussion: RAY:
In A Farewell to Arms, one of the things Hemingway seems
to be saying is that war has a really profound effect on
people's minds once they've participated in it. Even the title
suggests that one of the story's real concerns is how
Henry is going to be able to mentally leave the war behind.
ELSA:
I think so too. And it's clear that he has a hard time
detaching himself from the life of a soldier. He acts really
cool, but at times it's obvious that the war has gotten to
him. Like when he shoots the engineer who can't get the
car unstuck. Henry is clearly a guy carrying around a lot of
stress.
NICK:
Is it possible that the title has a double meaning, though?
Is it possible that "arms" refers not just to the war, but to
something else as well?
ZOE:
Oh, definitely. It's also "arms" in a romantic sense, for sure.
One of the themes of the novel seems to be that the world
is a pretty cruel place, so it's not just a matter of Henry
having to say farewell to the war, but to the idea that the
world has room for things like love and beauty. It's a pretty
dark story
Which student is most clearly using evidence to support an opinion?