Ernest Hemingway called his novel A Farewell to Arms his “Romeo and Juliet.” The most obvious similarity between these works are their star-crossed lovers, as noted by critic Carlos Baker; it is another that the deaths of both Hemingway's Juliet and Catherine are precipitated by ironic incidents. In Catherine's case, the irony is that it was a biological error that killed her and not the war that she and her lover had managed to escape. Hemingway's novel also shares Romeo and Juliet's five-part format (introduction, complication, climax, resolution, and conclusion) and integrates short scenes into the overall tale of love and loss. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the first book, Hemingway introduces his main characters and setting with a slightly journalistic style, detached but sorrowful as he describes the harsh life on the battlefront of a small Italian town Catherine, an English nurse in the hospital british of the city. Henry is a conflicted soldier; having joined the army without a thirst for glory or sincere faith in his cause, he is easily drained by war. Catherine mourns the death of her fiancé in the war the previous year. As the book progresses, the love story between the two revives their spirits after suffering and loss. Another key character is Rinaldi, Henry's friend, a surgeon who uses sex as an escape but avoids love because he considers it complicated. A final main character is the priest, a kind young man who provides spiritual guidance to the few interested soldiers and who serves as a foil to the mischievous Rinaldi. Often the butt of the officers' jokes, the priest responds with good-natured understanding. The second book presents the "complication" or rising action of the story. The most obvious is the complication of Henry's wound and how it changes his life and his relationship with Catherine, but love becomes a more dominant complication. Rinaldi, with his endless speeches about the need for multiple women, sex and alcohol, embodies the hyperactive male sexual desire and his need to escape through physical pleasures. The priest challenges this idea in his conversation with Henry; according to him sex is not enough to satisfy a man. The priest believes that Henry lacks someone to love, and when Henry protests, he makes a clear distinction between lust and love. As the second book continues, true love develops. When Caterina arrives in Milan the "game" between Enrico and the nurse soon turns into love. The moment Henry sees Catherine in the doorway, he states, "When I saw her I fell in love with her. Everything changed inside me" (98). Catherine's pregnancy further complicates the story. Catherine worries that Henry feels trapped, and he admits that he feels "biologically trapped" (103). Henry's comment shows his hatred for the world and the natural order of life but not for Catherine herself: she blames biology and fate for her current position. The story of the third book forces the reader to recognize the horrors of war. The book begins with the major admitting that he is tired of the war: “If I were away I don't think I would come back” (175). His lack of drive and passion seems to be contagious as even the priest notes that all the men have become "gentle". The men no longer have the determination they once had and are eager to return home, even if it means losing the war. At dinner Rinaldi tries to relive the old days by loudly criticizing the priest to liven up the almost empty dining room for Henry's sake, but it is a terrible attempt. Rinaldi confides to Henry: "This war is killing me",.