Vogel Farewell To Arms Practice Blog

Throughout what I have read so far, much of the novel has revolved around alcohol in some form. The majority of characters are constantly drinking, likely using it as a coping mechanism to escape from the war. No matter what a person’s occupation, it appears most have a drink within an arm’s length at all times. Frederic, while in the hospital and under specific orders not to drink, still smuggles a few bottles into his room. Hiding the half consumed bottles on the other side of his bed while he is being checked on, it is apparent that he knows he probably shouldn’t be drinking yet does anyway. Even surgeons have been shown drinking right before operating on soldiers, raising some questions about the quality of surgery the soldiers might be recieving. In the trench, Frederic drinks wine from a canteen that he is given. He states that he thinks it’s rotten, yet continues drinking it anyway- clearly not too concerned about taste. This constant drinking is something I didn’t particularly expect to read in the novel but it makes sense when perceived as a coping mechanism.