Toy Soldiers Escaping the Game in A Farewell to Arms

           Trusting soldiers with the lives of a whole country is what all nations do but in reality most these men never grow up very much and focusing on the war for such a long time period seems highly unlikely  because life still goes on such as with woman, friends, family, and health. These men in particular get away from the war, maturely of course, with drinking, eating, and joking about death even as it surrounds them. This meal, as many usually do, began with quite a few drinks. When dinner is not ready on time Rinaldi solves the problem with an in-depth resolution by saying, “I’ll go get the bottle” (172). Although Federico is not supposed to drink he trust Rinaldi’s advise as a doctor, which is obviously good thinking when he explains, “It burns out the stomach completely”, “nothing is worse for you”, “Drink it down, baby, and look forward to getting sick”(172) These are all reassuring from a trained professional. Rinaldi even easily persuades the priest when has a glass of wine when he offers it to him. As an escape from reality these men really do just enjoy drinking together.

               When the major comes in to eat, before the priest, the three decided to make up for the quietness of the mess and are already on a right track. Frederic and the major don’t enjoy the difference in setting of the mess from loud and full and entertaining when the war began to now very few men, “Is this all we are?” asks the major(172). Frederic notes, “I miss the noise of the mess,” and of course Rinaldi again has the perfect solution, “I will be noisy” (172). This not only displays the toll the war is taking on their army and friends but also that the best and maybe only way for them to get away from the devastation even if only for the night is drinking. Once the food is brought out these men eat like teenage boys, where no portion is ever satisfying. As soon as the soup was set down the major was focused and got to business, he “ladled out a full plate” and was “busy with his soup” (172).  Of course he was not the only one, “The spaghetti came in and we were all busy” (172). Busy could be defined as actively or attentively engaged in work so that fact that Hemingway uses this word to describe their eating habits gives the reader a perfect visual of starving men scarfing down supper. The priest arrives late and is just as eager to get in on the good grub, when he is brought soup he said he would just start with spaghetti, so basically is saying just give me the real meal and he gets to work like the others. They tease the priest like always and Frederic sticks up for him however the priest seems little concerned since his thank you consists of, “The priest looked up from his stew and smiled at me”173) Normal dinner settings you eat slowly and chat throughout the meal but these men only do between the separate servings and are consumed, physically and mentally in the food.

               Of course these mature men go on to joke that the meat they are eating is the killed enemy. Rinaldi begins with “Its’ dead Austrian” (174). And his buddy Frederic finishes it off with “The white meat is from officers”174). Rinaldi, as a surgeon, deals with wounded and dying men all day yet when he gets with his friends and has a couple drinks it can become a joking matter. The seriousness of the war and situation is extremely down played and would never be known at this meal. These soldiers act as though the war they are fighting in is just a game and can be forgotten at the end of each day with drinks, food, and good company.