Ernest Hemingway it the king of IRONY: Never will he be direct, even if its alluded.

In “A Farewell to Arms,” Ernest Hemingway alludes to the poem “To his Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell, creating a tone that allows his characters to enter into serious conversation. Hemingway writes the allusion; “’but at my back I always hear/ Times’s winged chariot hurrying near” (Hemingway 154). To the people familiar with the poem, they might think he is going to take this in the direction of lust and desire. However, Hemingway wouldn’t be Hemingway if he was that obvious. SO he decides to be all WEIRD about it and use it to create a serious non-sexual tone, SHOCKING! Hemingway really draws on the sense that time is running out, and it’s a “winged chariot” so its approaching EXTREMLY fast. Also, Henry is constantly thinking of what is going to happen to Catherine and the baby when he leaves. I forget that Catherine is a nurse, so she is pretty smart, she happens to be informed in literature and she is aware of the poem. Catherine states, “I know that poem… but it’s about a girl who wouldn’t live with a man” (154). By Hemingway allowing her to know the poem, he himself briefly descries the over-all theme of the poem that is being alluded to. Also, the author is allowing Catherin to know to inform the reader that it’s going to be used in a different way that its used in the poem, this is seen when Catherine says “but”. The tone derived from the section of the poem really pulls on the sense of urgency rather than the sense of sexual pleasure. Hemingway does it again, NOT following what the normal informed reader would think…. I guess he likes to keep us guessing lol. As soon after the short description from Catherine, Hemingway quickly shifts the tone and begins to clarify when Henry says: “My head felt very clear and cold and I wanted to talk facts. Where will you have the baby?” (154). The allusion really draws on the sense of urgency by paralleling the urgency to have sex, with the urgency of caring for his beloved, HOW SWEET! The urgency created is really enhanced by the fact of the allusion. However, it’s being used in a more serious kind of way. Men are wired to look to satisfy their sexual desires, Hemingway is capitalizing on that sense to demonstrating how emotionally involved Henry is with Catherine. Henry has reached a point where he is in love with Catherin. This love can be seen as one of the big vague themes throughout the novel.  What adds to the fact that they are seriously turning a new leave, from complete lust to complete genuine love is the fact that it was raining during the time he said this. Hemingway writes, “we were very still and could hear the rain” (154). The rain symbolizes the beginning of their new level in their relationship. Again, Hemingway really creating an ironic use of the allusion, as he uses it to really highlight the fact that they are not in the relationship to satisfy their needs, but they are in it for the long run and willing to bear the stress that the birth of the baby is going to bring.