Frederick as a Code Hero in Farewell to

Arms  
It is the nature of the beast within that fuels our inclination towards conflict
and destruction. During the surreal powers of war, life hangs in the balance
setting the stage for an elite group of individuals who triumphantly rise above
the rest amidst the chaos. As Ernest Hemingway illustrates in his book,
Farewell to Arms, the character of Frederick Henry; an ambulance driver, is
put to the ultimate test during the madness and atrocity of WWI. His
experiences at the front pose a challenge only a Hemingway hero can affront
successfully. As the epitome of a code hero, Frederick is a man of action,
self-discipline, and one who maintains grace under pressure.   
Whenever the situation requires, Henry rises to the occasion
taking control of potentially dangerous incidents with quick decision leaving
no room for second thought. After Frederick is captured by the battle police,
he foresees his inevitable death if no action was taken and instinctively
escaped detainment. "I looked at the carabineri, they were looking at the
newcomers. The others were looking a the colchel. I ducked down, pushed
between two men, and ran for the river, my head down. I tripped at the edge
and went in with a splash" (Hemingway, 214). Henry witnessed the gruesome
executions of the officers before him and knew he was not going to die
without a fight to preserve his precious existence. Being a man of action
rather than words, was the determining factor which helped him survive this
unfortunate confrontation with death. Regardless of the circumstances, Henry
used his authoritative position to make sure others did not engage in any
threatening positions that could jeopardize their safety and the safety of
others. When one of his ambulances got suck in the mud during a retreat, two
sergeants simply tried to abandon the situation but Frederick stopped them in
their tracks. "Halt, I said. They kept on down the muddy road, the hedge on
either side. I order you to halt. I called. They went a little faster. I opened up
my holster, took the pistol, aimed at the one who talked the most, and fired"
(Hemingway, 195). The men were given an ample opportunity to obey
Henry's commands and by ignoring them, it suggested that they were
challenging their superior's authority. Such actions are not tolerated by
Frederick as he was once again forced to take the initiative as his character is
always compelled to do. 
The possession of self-discipline is another vital element that forms the
makeup of the code hero and is the only value that will truly serve a man.
Although Henry is an avid drinker, he never becomes drunk to the point that
he does not know what he is doing or can control his behavior and actions.
"He poured two glasses and we touched them, first fingers extended. The
grappa was very strong. ......We drank the second grappa, Rinaldi put away
the bottle and we went down the stairs" (Hemingway, 17). Presented with the
invitation, Henry gladly accepted a few drinks an acted like a dignified
gentlemen even though in the immediate presence of alcohol. A man of
strength and character will not let substance control and influence his actions
for only the weak are dependent and rely upon such means to live out each
day. Frederick's self-discipline not only shines in his drinking habits, but
shows in all instances especially when the challenge to maintain it is at its
greatest. After he plunged into the lake escaping the battle police, Henry
boarded a train and entered a wine shop in the town of Milan where the train
stopped. The owner of this shop offered to sell him leave papers and also a
place to stay to avoid the authorities, but Frederick avoided the temptation.
"Remember, he said. Come here do not let other people take you in. Here you
are all right."....."I am in no trouble, Frederick said. But I value the address of
a friend...."(Hemingway, 228). Even though he was a wanted criminal, Henry
did not accept the help that would have provided a way to avoid being
arrested even if for only a short time. As a man on the run, Frederick would
be unlikely to repose trust in the first stranger who accosts him after his
disersion. He uses his self-control to resist his overwhelming urges to accept
the help as not to risk jeopardizing his future with Catherine who was the one
and only love of his life. He has an uncanny ability to weigh and analyze the
choices he makes without getting emotionally involved.
Frederick is sentimentally detached from the rest of the world
that enables him to deal with intensely climatic moments with such aplomb
and ease. When being transported to his room in the American hospital,
Henry graciously acknowledged the stretcher-bearers even in such grueling
pain. "There is money in my pocket. I said to the porter. The porter took out
the money. The two stretcher bearers stood beside the bed holding their caps.
Give them 5 lire a piece and five lire for yourself" (Hemingway, 81).
Rewarding the staff for doing their job in spite of Henry's uncomfortable
dilemma is a perfect example of how he is able to put aside his true inner
feelings to accommodate those around him. Regardless of the severity of any
given situation, Frederick is able to mask his emotions showing only a
nonchalant facade as he performs mundane duties in traumatic or pressure
filled predicaments. He deals with his wife's death by merely observing her
lifeless body and casually strolling back to the hotel like nothing had ever
happened. "But after I had got them out and shut the door and turned off the
light it wasn't any good. It was like saying good-by to a statue. After a while I
went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain"
(Hemingway, 314). The statue is a metaphorical creation, which attempts to
grasp the nothingness Frederick feels after Catherine's death. Perhaps the path
Henry takes towards the hotel symbolizes a new chapter in his life one in
which he begins without the love he held so dearly and strived to maintain. 
Frederick reflects the essential elements of a true code hero
with dignity and grace. By following his character in every facet of his
journey, we see how Hemingway uses it to unify the central events of the
story around his creation of a new breed of hero and all the qualities they
possess. Such characteristics will set one apart and become evident in all
aspects of life where they are truly challenged and welcomed. As it may be,
we all hold the potential to achieve the status of a code hero; but only the
strong and willing are able to look within and release the true essence of their
being for others to experience.