A Farewell to Arms: Chapter 26

The color-coded bars in this section make it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. For instance, indicates that all five themes apply to that part of the summary.

Summary Analysis Themes

After dinner, Henry and the priest talk in Henry’s room. The priest thinks that now that the destruction from the war is apparent, both sides will eventually stop fighting. Henry disagrees, and argues that the winning side will never give up. Henry says that it is only in defeat that people become “Christian,” or gentle. He adds that he no longer believes in victory or defeat. The priest asks what Henry does believe. He answers that he believes only in sleep.

Henry’s thoughts about religion are deeply cynical. He no longer believes in the idea of war. Henry’s belief only in “sleep” shows how literally fatigued he has become. It also suggests that war has made him only believe in death.