The similarities and difference between A Farewell to Arms and Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage are based on the author’s writing style and the story content. Both stories show how war affects the lives of people and their reality. Both stories are different and similar.
The style of both authors is different and similar. Their style is similar in that they both describe the setting, lack emotion from the characters, use symbolism and do not describe the physical appearance of characters.
The writing styles of both authors differ. Stephen Crane likes to connect his chapters into a single idea. Ernest Hemingway, on the other hand, enjoys beginning his chapters by describing what the character does and where he is. Ernest Hemingway ends his chapters in the same formal way that he begins them. The endings of both stories are opposite. The Red Badge of Courage has Henry marching in the ranks and imagining beauty. He felt that he was a man of quiet strength and his last words were about a golden ray running through the leaden rain clouds. This happy ending was found in Chapter 24 (page 155). A Farewell to Arms had a tragic end. Hemingway concluded the story by having Henry leave the hospital in the rain, after Catherine died. This story, unlike The Red Badge of Courage was left unfinished.
Stephen Crane, in The Red Badge of Courage describes settings very well. For example, he uses a lot of detail to describe the meadows and mountains. Ernest Hemingway enjoys the same thing as Stephen Crane: describing settings in great detail. Hemingway describes nature the same way as Crane. Crane’s description is more colorful, but he uses fewer colors.
The descriptions are very detailed for the settings and scenery, but not so much in terms of a person’s emotional state or physical appearance. Readers were left in the dark about characters. The Red Badge of Courage tells us nothing about Henry other than that he is a young man. The same is true for the rest of the characters. These characters were described by their height or weight. Henry’s feelings were discussed in this story. He usually expresses his emotions by doubting himself. Hemingway’s characters are described a bit more by Hemingway than Crane. Catherine is described as having tawny, blond hair (chapter 4, p. 18). Characters were not shown to have any emotions, only what was obvious. The characters were complex despite the lack of description. This was due to the mystery that the authors created. The characters were still a little bit distant from the readers, but both authors did not close the gap. The characters must be understood by the readers.
In both stories symbolism plays an important role. The authors use imagery, hinting at hidden meanings and scenes or objects. The title of The Red Badge of Courage itself is a symbolic image. According to story, red badges of courage were wounds. Henry Fleming was of the opinion that getting a cut or an injury is a sign of courage. He wanted the’red ribbon of courage’ so he could prove he was not a coward. (Chapter 9: page 61). Henry was initially convinced that he could flee the battle and let the smarter soldiers fight. However, the dead soldier made Henry overthink his actions so he would know if they were acceptable. This made the reader realize that he would have to accept his fate and fight in battle. Henry’s previous conversation with Jim Conklin (page 59-61) and Wilson shows that Henry will have to make a choice and accept the fact that he has to fight in battle. It wasn’t just symbolic but foreshadowing, as this tells readers that bad things are coming. Wilson used foreshadowing again when he gave Henry a small yellow envelope that he could give to Henry’s family in the event of something bad happening to him. (Chapter 3: page 31).
A Farewell to Arms is full of symbolism. Henry’s description (page 128) of Catherine and her hair was also a symbol. Water is mentioned throughout the entire story. It was the main theme of the story. Catherine mentions her fear of rain in chapter 19, pages 125 and 126. Henry is left alone in the pouring rain by the end of the novel, following Catherine’s demise (chapter 40; page 332). The story was full of references to the rain. When rain is described, it usually means that something bad has happened or is happening. Catherine’s description was only made once but it still represents a significant symbol. Catherine let Henry see her hair cascade over his face when they were first dating. Henry thought he had been in a tented or behind a water fall. This represents the couple’s ability to live in peace despite war around them.
Hemingway makes use of foreshadowing in many places, like when Henry says the world kills those who are good, brave, and gentle. Or when Catherine tells him she feels terrible things will happen (chapter18; page116). The doctor warns Catherine that her hips are too narrow in Chapter 38, page 294. This tells the reader that there may be something untoward happen when Catherine gives birth. These small details could be clues to the reader about future events.
There may be differences or similarities in the themes, conflict, tone, author and narrator, and setting of the stories. Both stories explore the idea of war’s impact on a person’s life. It includes the soldier’s experience and thoughts about war.
The tone of The Red Badge of Courage seems realistic. Crane is looking down upon Henry. Henry comes across as a coward and someone who is afraid to fight. Hemingway shares the same tone as Frederic Henry. Hemingway’s tone in A Farewell to Arms is similar to that of Frederic Henry. Both stories seem to portray war as evil and unnecessary. In both stories, war prevented many positive events from occurring. The war caused many negative events.
A Farewell to Arms is set during World War I in Italy, Switzerland and around the year 1917. Both stories addressed the issues that can arise from war. Both Henry Fleming & Frederic Henry volunteer to serve in the military. Henry joined as a Union soldier in order to better understand himself and face his fears. Frederic is an American who joined Italy’s army without any apparent reason. This was what he himself told Catherine (chapter 5. pages 22-23). Both stories claim that their characters are volunteers but do not mention patriotism.
The two stories are very different, even though they both deal with wars and battles. The Red Badge of Courage is a story about courage and the struggle of oneself against others. Henry Fleming has no idea whether he should fight or run. Henry Fleming is unsure whether to fight or flee. He knows that by fighting, he may get injured, or even die. Henry’s self-doubt continues throughout the entire story until the very end, when he has become more mature and experienced. He saw war as a challenge and thought he had passed it.
The theme of A Farewell to Arms is the relationship between pain and love. Henry loves Catherine. The couple faces many obstacles to stay together, and this causes them pain. Henry was able to feel what it’s like to be a loved one who has died. This story shows how hard life was during the war.
The conflict of The Red Badge of Courage takes place between Henry and himself. This is because Henry has been terrified of battle his entire life. He asks himself constantly if others are also doubting their courage. Similar to Henry Fleming’s conflict in A Farewell to Arms is the man versus himself. Henry’s passion for Catherine didn’t stop him from doubting his ability to love.
In both stories the point-of view affected how readers viewed them. The Red Badge of Courage is told by Henry Fleming from an omniscient third-person point of view. Henry’s emotions and thoughts are visible, while the others’ emotions remain unknown. Frederic Henry uses a first-person narrative in A Farewell to Arms. However, he switches to a third-person narration during self-reflections and flashbacks. Henry talks only about what he says and does. He does not include many details about his thoughts or feelings.
Both authors had a similar style, but their content was different. In both stories, the authors discuss how war affects people’s lives. Both Fleming’s and Henry’s lives were negatively affected by war in both stories. Fleming overcame the brutality and negativity that war brought, but Henry was forced to endure the worst. The two stories are similar and different in terms of their author’s writing style and story content.
