# IX explained — A Farewell to Arms

> Chapter companion for A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.

## What happens

Frederic Henry shares a meal with his ambulance drivers, Passini, Manera, Gavuzzi, and Gordini, who openly discuss their hatred of the war and the class divisions that perpetuate it. Passini argues that war is never-ending and that defeat is no worse than continued fighting. The conversation is interrupted by a bombardment, and Frederic is wounded by a trench mortar shell. He is treated at the dressing station and evacuated by ambulance, sharing the ride with a dying soldier.

## Themes in this chapter

### War and Disillusionment

The chapter is dominated by the drivers' cynical and disillusioned views on war, with Passini declaring 'There is nothing worse than war' and arguing that it never truly ends.

### Courage and Cowardice

The discussion of the granatieri who refused to attack and were executed, contrasting with the bersaglieri who are called 'brave' but also 'fools,' explores the complex nature of courage and discipline.

### The Individual vs. The Crowd

Passini and Manera critique the ruling class and the masses who blindly follow orders, highlighting the tension between individual conscience and collective action in war.

## Character check-ins

### Frederic Henry

The protagonist and narrator, a lieutenant in the Italian ambulance corps. He listens to his drivers' anti-war sentiments, is wounded by a shell, and is evacuated.

### Passini

One of Frederic's ambulance drivers. He speaks passionately against the war, arguing that it is never-ending and that defeat is not worse than continued fighting.

### Manera

An ambulance driver who participates in the anti-war discussion and jokes about the grenadiers' refusal to attack.

### Gavuzzi

An ambulance driver who asks about the attacking troops and shares the meal with Frederic.

### Gordini

The quietest of the drivers, who accompanies Frederic to the dressing station and helps carry the food back.

## Key lines

> There is nothing worse than war.

War is the worst possible thing that can happen.

_Passini's core anti-war statement, reflecting the chapter's disillusionment._

> War is not won by victory.

Victory does not truly end a war.

_Passini argues that war is a cycle that cannot be resolved by simply winning battles._

> If everybody would not attack the war would be over.

If everyone refused to fight, the war would end.

_Manera's suggestion that collective refusal could stop the war._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters