Chapter 7 Summary

On his drive from the barracks, Henry picks up a fellow American soldier, fighting for the Italian army, who is suffering from a hernia in his ambulance. The soldier admits that he has purposely got rid of the truss, meant to support the hernia, so that he is not sent to the front to fight the war. He is aware that his commanding officers might have knowledge of this trick; hence, the soldier is afraid that Henry might report him. However, Henry chooses to help the American soldier and devises a plan that will keep him in the hospital. Henry tells him to fall on the ground and injure his head as that injury will surely keep him in the hospital. Henry picks up a fellow American soldier, fighting for the Italian army, who is suffering from a hernia in his ambulance. The soldier admits that he has purposely got rid of the truss, meant to support the hernia, so that he is not sent to the front to fight the war. He is aware that his commanding officers might have knowledge of this trick; hence, the soldier is afraid that Henry might report him. However, Henry chooses to help the American soldier and devises a plan that will keep him in the hospital. Henry tells him to fall on the ground and injure his head as that injury will surely keep him in the hospital.

Back in his room, Henry thinks of the offensive that the Italians are supposed to launch after two days. He wishes to be with Catherine in Milan, making love to her and sipping wine. He plans to see her after dinner but gets drunk before that. Rinaldi gives Henry coffee beans to help him sober up quickly and accompanies him to the British hospital. By the time they reach the hospital, it is quite late and Helena informs them that Catherine is sick and cannot see Henry that night. Suddenly, Henry starts feeling “lonely and hollow.” Catherine in Milan, making love to her and sipping wine. He plans to see her after dinner but gets drunk before that. Rinaldi gives Henry coffee beans to help him sober up quickly and accompanies him to the British hospital. By the time they reach the hospital, it is quite late and Helena informs them that Catherine is sick and cannot see Henry that night. Suddenly, Henry starts feeling “lonely and hollow.”

Chapter 8 Summary

An attack is planned for the next evening and Henry has to drive his ambulance to Pavla by crossing a river. The British hospital lies on his way to Pavla. Henry asks the driver to stop and goes to see Catherine. He informs her that he has been sent out for a “show” and urges her not to worry about him. Catherine gives him a St. Anthony medal for protection. He returns to the ambulance to continue his journey to Pavla.

Chapter 9 Summary

Upon reaching Pavla, a Major takes Henry and other fellow ambulance drivers to a dugout by the river to keep themselves hidden from the enemy. Henry notices that the roadside trenches are filled with artillery and above the distant mountains, Austrian observation balloons are hanging. Inside the dugout, the men discuss the war and its possible ending. Henry holds the view that things will turn out worse if Italy pulls out from the war. But Passini, Henry’s driver, disagrees with him and thinks that war will go on for eternity until one party decides to pull out. They all get hungry. Henry and Gordini, another fellow driver, go out to fetch some food. While eating cold macaroni and cheese slabs inside the dugout, the Austrian bombing and shelling begin. A trench mortar hits the dugout and there is “a flash, as when a blast-furnace door is swung open.” Passini is killed, and Gordini and Henry are injured. Gavuzzi and Manera, the two other drivers, carry Henry to the wound-dressing station where a British doctor treats Henry’s injured leg. After that, Henry is put in an ambulance full of injured men and is taken to the hospital. Passini, Henry’s driver, disagrees with him and thinks that war will go on for eternity until one party decides to pull out. They all get hungry. Henry and Gordini, another fellow driver, go out to fetch some food. While eating cold macaroni and cheese slabs inside the dugout, the Austrian bombing and shelling begin. A trench mortar hits the dugout and there is “a flash, as when a blast-furnace door is swung open.” Passini is killed, and Gordini and Henry are injured. Gavuzzi and Manera, the two other drivers, carry Henry to the wound-dressing station where a British doctor treats Henry’s injured leg. After that, Henry is put in an ambulance full of injured men and is taken to the hospital.

Chapter 10 Summary

At the hospital, Henry lies in extreme pain. Rinaldi visits the hospital to meet his roommate with a bottle of cognac. He informs Henry that the Italians have won the battle against the Austrians and because of Henry’s heroism and injury, he will become a decorated soldier. However, Henry is not interested in being honored as he believes that he has not displayed any heroism in the battle. Promising to send Catherine to visit Henry, Rinaldi leaves.

Chapter 11 Summary

In the evening, the priest comes to visit Henry in the hospital. He admits that he misses Henry at the mess hall. The priest has brought English newspapers, mosquito netting, and vermouth as gifts for which Henry is thankful. They talk about the relation between war and religion. Henry tells the priest that he hates himself for pushing other men to join the war. The priest tells Henry that the world has two types of men: the first type makes war, and the second type does not. Henry becomes sad that the first kind of men push the second type to join wars and he is someone who facilitates the process. He is worried whether the war will ever end but the priest assures him that he must have faith and hope, although he admits that sometimes he also finds it difficult to retain hope. As the conversation steers to the topic of God, the priest expresses his love for God. On the other hand, Henry admits that he does not love God but rather fears Him. The priest tells Henry that one day Henry will fall in love with someone, surrendering himself completely to the other person, like the way the priest loves God and has surrendered himself to Him. The priest believes that Henry has the capacity for such kind of love and makes a distinction between such love and spending nights at a brothel. However, Henry remains sceptical of the possibility. The priest bids farewell to Henry and leaves while Henry falls asleep. priest comes to visit Henry in the hospital. He admits that he misses Henry at the mess hall. The priest has brought English newspapers, mosquito netting, and vermouth as gifts for which Henry is thankful. They talk about the relation between war and religion. Henry tells the priest that he hates himself for pushing other men to join the war. The priest tells Henry that the world has two types of men: the first type makes war, and the second type does not. Henry becomes sad that the first kind of men push the second type to join wars and he is someone who facilitates the process. He is worried whether the war will ever end but the priest assures him that he must have faith and hope, although he admits that sometimes he also finds it difficult to retain hope. As the conversation steers to the topic of God, the priest expresses his love for God. On the other hand, Henry admits that he does not love God but rather fears Him. The priest tells Henry that one day Henry will fall in love with someone, surrendering himself completely to the other person, like the way the priest loves God and has surrendered himself to Him. The priest believes that Henry has the capacity for such kind of love and makes a distinction between such love and spending nights at a brothel. However, Henry remains sceptical of the possibility. The priest bids farewell to Henry and leaves while Henry falls asleep.

Chapter 12 Summary

The doctors at the hospital decide to relocate Henry to another hospital; he needs care for an extended period of time, they expect many more wounded soldiers to pour in as the offensive begins. The night before Henry is supposed to be relocated to the American hospital in Milan, Rinaldi visits him accompanied by a major. Henry learns that there is hope for the Italians as America has declared war on Germany. Rinaldi wonders whether President Wilson will wage a war against Austria when Henry says that it will happen anytime now. The men start discussing the possibility of living in Milan when Rinaldi informs Henry that Catherine too has been relocated to Milan to the same hospital where Henry is supposed to be transferred. The next day, on his way to Milan in a train, Henry gets too drunk and vomits.

Chapters 7–12 Analysis

The ugly face of war is exposed in these chapters often coupled with an undertone of dark absurdity. The life of a soldier is so miserable that they would rather hurt and injure themselves than go back to the war. This grimness is exemplified by the American soldier whom Henry helps. Henry, who often voices the author’s take on war, finds nothing glorious about war and patriotism. It also becomes evident that Henry lacks any personal feeling toward the war, and as a volunteer ambulance driver for the Italian army, he feels people are delusional about war. Henry performs his duty with detachment and states, “Well, I knew I would not be killed. Not in this war. It did not have anything to do with me. It seemed no more dangerous to me than war in the movies.” Soon after, he himself gets injured. author’s take on war, finds nothing glorious about war and patriotism. It also becomes evident that Henry lacks any personal feeling toward the war, and as a volunteer ambulance driver for the Italian army, he feels people are delusional about war. Henry performs his duty with detachment and states, “Well, I knew I would not be killed. Not in this war. It did not have anything to do with me. It seemed no more dangerous to me than war in the movies.” Soon after, he himself gets injured.

The futility and illogicality of war comes forth when Henry and his fellow ambulance drivers face injury and death, although they are not soldiers themselves. They are shelled and Passini, a cynic, is killed instantly. The shelling has left Henry badly injured. Hemmingway describes Henry’s journey in the ambulance with accurate and grim details, even how the patient above Henry in the ambulance bleeding down onto him until the blood stopped dripping indicating his death. Although Henry has no illusions about war, Rinaldi talks of medals and honor. Henry finds these talks shallow and believes that there is nothing glorious about war.

Henry’s detachment and lack of religious beliefs are further explored when he talks to his priest friend. The priest informs Henry that he will love a person as much as the priest loves God, foreshadowing Henry’s change of heart for Catherine and introducing the motif of love as a religion.