The defeat of love in A Farewell to Arms The story begins in Gorizia, Italy, headquarters of Frederick's troops, during the First World War. The narrator is Frederick Henry, who is unclear at first. Frederick is an American volunteer in the Ambulance Corps and a second lieutenant in the Italian army. A young priest remains with the troop. Everyone except Federico is Roman Catholic, but he is the only one who respects it. Frederick has a permit and is deciding where to go. The priest suggests going to Abruzzo. Even though Federico says he will go, he goes to houses of prostitution. When he returns, he says that he is sorry that he did not go, but that he went to a place where a man can find his inner self. Lieutenant Rinaldi shares a room with Federico. He is an emotional Italian and is always in love with someone. When he is first introduced, he is in love with Catherine Barkley, a nurse at a local hospital. Federico goes with Rinaldi to meet her. When they first meet, Catherine talks about her finances being killed in the war. Frederick begins to visit Catherine every day. Frederick is not in love with Catherine, but wants to have a relationship with her. He tries to kiss her, but she slaps him. Federico has to go to war so he gives him Saint Anthony on a necklace. During the fight, Federico is seriously injured. Rinaldi and the priest go to visit him in hospital. Catherine visits him later and they have an affair in the hospital room. After this Federico realizes that he is really, truly in love with her; that he is no longer attracted to her only physically. Catherine is now stationed at the hospital Frederick is in and changes her schedule to the night shift. Catherine is pregnant and Frederick feels "biologically trapped". They are both staying in a hotel room and would like to have somewhere to go after seeing an Italian couple in a church. Then Federico will have to return to war. when they part it is rainy, cloudy and gloomy. There is a lot of disease and death in war, along with a lot of violence. Federico dives into the river trying to "wash away" his war life. He abandoned the army to return to Catherine. They find themselves in the city of Stresa. After they are reunited, the rain stops and there is light.