Chapter 33 Summary

Henry gets a cup of coffee in Milan when the owner of the shop, seeing Henry’s plight, offers to aid him. Henry turns down the offer, assuring him that he is in no trouble. The shop owner reassures Henry that he means well for him and asks him to get new clothing because it is evident from what Henry is wearing that he is an absconder from the army. Henry reaches the hospital and learns that Catherine is on a holiday in Stresa. He visits his friend Simmons, an opera student, who offers him civilian clothing, wearing which Henry can travel safely.

Chapter 34 Summary

On his way to Stresa in the train, Henry realizes that he has made peace with the war. In the hotel bar at Stresa where Henry stays, the bartender, Emilio, mentions that there are two English nurses in town. Henry presses Emilio for more information, upon which he learns the details of the hotel where they are staying. Henry goes to the hotel and finds Catherine and Helen in the dining room. Catherine is ecstatic to see Henry, but Helen is cross and frustrated with him as he has got Catherine pregnant despite her repeated warnings. Helen reprimands him, and then breaks into tears. Catherine and Henry spend the night together, which turns out to be beautiful. Henry muses about the world and is shattered by the feeling that the world gives death and hardship to both good people and bad people. Catherine wonders about Henry’s escape the next day. He tells her that he is not yet ready to talk about it but promises to tell her about it one day. They discuss running away to Switzerland to escape the war as Switzerland is neutral and Henry will not be treated like a criminal there.

Chapter 35 Summary

Henry goes fishing with the bartender Emilio later that morning. Emilio offers his boat as a loan to Henry so that he can escape. Catherine requests Henry to be kind to Helen, who is lonely and sad. Henry promises to do so and all three have a pleasant lunch together. At the hotel, Henry bumps into the elderly Count Greffi who is an old acquaintance. They are delighted to see each other after so long, and play billiards together while discussing war, life, and religion.

Chapter 36 Summary

Emilio barges into the couple’s room in the middle of the night to warn Henry that the police are looking for him and planning to arrest him for absconding the war. Emilio urges them to escape immediately and offers to give him his boat to row across the lake into Switzerland. He further provides them with food and brandy for the journey. The weather is stormy outside with heavy rainfall. Emilio says that Henry can send money in return for the boat later when they are safe.

Chapter 37 Summary

Henry and Catherina row through the restless waters of the lake. Catherine remains cheerful and helpful throughout despite their dreadful plight. They enjoy the food and brandy that Emilio has packed for them and finally arrive safely in Switzerland in the morning. They order breakfast. As was anticipated, the Swiss customs officers take them into custody. Henry tells the officers that they are tourists in search of recreation. Henry’s money makes the officers accept their story and they are given temporary visas to stay in Switzerland. They get suggestions for best towns for winter sport by the customs guards and finally are released. They manage to get a hotel room and relieved, they go to sleep happy. Catherina row through the restless waters of the lake. Catherine remains cheerful and helpful throughout despite their dreadful plight. They enjoy the food and brandy that Emilio has packed for them and finally arrive safely in Switzerland in the morning. They order breakfast. As was anticipated, the Swiss customs officers take them into custody. Henry tells the officers that they are tourists in search of recreation. Henry’s money makes the officers accept their story and they are given temporary visas to stay in Switzerland. They get suggestions for best towns for winter sport by the customs guards and finally are released. They manage to get a hotel room and relieved, they go to sleep happy.

Chapters 33–37 Analysis

After abandoning the war, Henry is helped by many people not involved in the war, although he is always afraid of being discovered. This highlights the fact that people are not condescending toward his decision to leave the war and are quite understanding of his plight. He is first helped by a shop owner followed by a number of civilians who have extended their support to assist him. This facilitates his escape to Switzerland along with Catherine, which can provide them with temporary refuge.

When Henry is reunited with Catherine, their happiness is marred by Helen’s breakdown. Her belief that Henry and Catherine will not be happy together sets a dark tone to the reunion, serving as a clear indication that the two lovers are probably not destined to live happily ever after. It is not something lacking in either of their characters that obstructs their happy destiny, both Catherine and Henry display courage and love. It is the cruel world that they inhabit which eventually “breaks” them apart because of their goodness. The resilient couple tries to overcome hurdles and obstacles of all sorts and try to find joy wherever they can. They escape to Switzerland on a stormy, rainy night. Yet their courage, humor, and appreciation of food and brandy highlight their ability to appreciate goodness even amongst all the gloom. This sentiment beautifully echoes Henry’s quotation in Chapter 23 from Marvell’s poem “To His Coy Mistress”: “‘But at my back I always hear Time’s winged chariot hurrying near.’”