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Characters

• Frederic Henry, often simply called "Tenente" ("Lieutenant"), is the narrator of the story. Henry is a volunteer ambulance driver from the United States. In Henry, we see the beginnings of what comes to be called Hemingway's "Code Hero": Henry is stoic under duress or pain; he modestly deflects praise for his contributions to the war; he is unflappable under fire; he does his work. He is a "man's man," in that his thoughts revolve on women ("girls") and drink. He participates in and seems to enjoy the banal, everyday conversation between the soldiers. He is attracted to the simple goodness of the priest, who, like Henry (who is not religious), sticks to his beliefs despite the war's constant presence.
• Catherine Barkley is an English V.A.D (which is similar to a nurse). She volunteered in the war at the same time her fiance of eight years joined the army. He was killed in the Battle of Somme. She is English, professional and deeply feeling. Her sexual desires and her simple desire for companionship are sometimes at odds with her needs to tend to the ill. Like the code hero, she handles conflicting needs with grace, giving to both, but shorting none. Feminist thinkers will see in Catherine Hemingway's perfect woman: wise and cynical in many ways, her wisdom cannot contain her desire. As Henry gives his health and youth to the war effort, Catherine's chief heroism is to accept the pain and death of childbirth stoically. Barkley has been "consistantly ignored" as a code hero, probably because she is a woman ^[4]
• Rinaldi is a physician through whom Hemingway draws his idea of an Italian male. Sketched somewhat jingoistically, Rinaldi is unfailingly exuberant, ignoring small details that would stop his large and giving gestures. He loves women and drinking, bearing a bottle of the latter and tales of the former to his friend Henry as Henry recovers from his wounds. He enjoys performing surgery, seeing it as an enjoyable challenge; he greets his friend Frederic Henry with a formal European-style kiss. He usually refers to Henry as "baby". Rinaldi is a form of the code hero as well. He allows Hemingway to explore another, non-Anglo-American, way of being male, of facing even a difficult world, an injured Italy, with joie de vivre, ignoring all danger, giving himself. Henry reunites with a tired and syphilitic Rinaldi in the middle of the novel, illustrating the flaws of this approach to the war and to life.
• The Priest The chaplain in Henry's unit. Baited by the other officers, he is befriended by Henry, to whom he offers spiritual advice. The last time we see this character, his faith is wavering. Can also be interpreted as a "Code Hero".
• Helen Ferguson Catherine's friend and fellow nurse.
• Passini and Bonello Ambulance drivers serving under Henry.
• Manera, Gavuzzi, Gordini, Piani and Aymo Other ambulance drivers.
• Mrs. Walker An American nurse at the American hospital in Milan.
• Miss Gage Another American nurse, sympathetic to Henry and Catherine's affair.
• Dr. Valentini A surgeon who is highly competent and full of joie de vivre.
• Meyers A gloomy American expatriate.
• Ettore Moretti An Italian-American Officer from San Francisco serving in the Italian army.
• Ralph Simmons An American student of opera and Henry's friend.
• Count Greffi An old but vigorous Italian whom Henry knows from Stresa and who serves as a mentor to Henry.