Fredrick Henry In All Quiet On The Western Front

Throughout the novel the actual appearance of protagonist, Frederic Henry, was not revealed in detail at anytime. The reader was left to speculate through the majority of the novel as to what he looked like. Very late in the novel Frederic returned to the hospital to visit Catherine and was described as looking like a fake doctor with facial hair. This would suggest that he must be in his late twenties to early thirties as many years of education are required to become a doctor. The growth of facial hair would also suggest he was past puberty. Frederic’s beard can be seen as a symbol that represented a form of protection and disguise from the authorities, as he was a deserter of war.

Before this quote Catherine had been out visiting for a very short time with her close friend, Helen Ferguson. Upon Catherine’s return, Frederic and Catherine engaged in a brief conversation where Catherine sounded very vain and controlling. Frederic’s responses sounded very self-pitying and dependent. He thought he needed Catherine continually near him to remain a complete and whole man. He was a lost and lonely soul without her. It was ironic that he depended on the war to keep himself from thinking about Catherine when he strongly detested war. …show more content…
He was an American ambulance driver, not a front line soldier, and in his eyes that would keep him safe. The lack of American involvement in the war at this time also created a feeling for him of being on the outside looking in. Frederic was emotionally indifferent and distant when it came to the war, and could not wait for it to

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Fredrick Henry In All Quiet On The Western Front

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