Geography is the compass which directs the reader's intuition toward a unique set of senses perceived from landscape. In A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway strategically uses geography to portray change, security, prospect, and the balance of life and death through the elements of symbolism. Gorizia is a town in Italy where the ambulance unit is located. On his leave, Frederick Henry goes West to explore Milan and other lively towns. This is because he is searching for excitement, as West is symbolic for being full of adventure. When he comes back, he is sent East to Plava which is where he is injured by the trench shell. This symbolizes a new beginning and is the turning point of his realization of life. The East symbolizes this well because this is where the sun rises. Ironically, it is after this that he and Catherine Barkley conceive a son and their relationship becomes more genuine and intertwined. A good portion of Italy is covered with mountains. Mountains can represent the balance of life and death as they are tall, close to heaven, divine, and are steep. The altitude can give way to thin air which could resemble suffocation and death. On the other hand it is clean air which means life. Snow is commonly found and that can represent purity and equality as its color is white and it falls impartially on the ground. Also, both snow and the mountain is a representation of immortality. After the he recovers, he is sent West to Udine to retreat. Moving West is a symbol of peace as this where the sun sets and it is a retreat. Also West could mean that he is searching for prospect as it is like the gold rush. He is moving West to meet up with Catherine and that is his fortune. On the way there, Frederick falls in a body of water when he escapes from the police. This is not really a cleansing scene as he is in hiding, however it does “baptize” him into a new faith of thinking. He decides that he is through with the war. Later Catharine and Frederick move to Milan where he is informed that the police is looking for them. They travel North to Switzerland. North symbolizes security and solitude. Since Switzerland is neutral, there is no fighting and no police, so this is there security. They can live here happily, just the two of them. Until, that is, when the baby is born and it ends up that it is just Frederick in solitude of rain.
