The Seven-Eighths of the Iceberg: Intertextuality, Images, and Symbols in A Farewell to Arms

This study looks at the seven-eighths of the iceberg in A Farewell to Arms in the process of analyzing the interplay between its topics and Hemingway’s style. As the novel is built upon Victorian values and the Bible, the one-eighth can effectively reveal how the old values are being dismantled. Hemingway transmits a lot of messages without using long-winded modifiers, which is because he uses the form adopted in the Bible. The war scenes where military discipline is crucial, switch to a reunion with Catherine and “love.” However, the novel uncovers the process of a farewell to the Bible on the part of the male protagonist, whether it be the Old Testament or the New Testament since all the testaments are broken. Hemingway expresses his point of view through the medium of images, which lead to symbols. Thus, this paper analyzes the seven-eighths of the iceberg under water in relation to the intertextuality of the Bible, powerful images, and symbols.