3。2 Ideal Women

During the First World War, with the vigorous development of the first feminist movement, more and more women had the right to vote and the right to education。 Their employment opportunities increased and they achieved economic independence。 In this time, Hemingway created some ideal women who conformed to the patriarchal culture。 The ideal women were always created according to the desire of men。 These women were on behalf of the dream for perfect women in the patriarchal society。 As a result, ideal women in Hemingway’s works were young and beautiful, and they always had good shape and long hair which attracted men, making the men get an aesthetic pleasure from their appearance。 Hemingway believed that women's liberation was not opposite to men。 He was eager to establish complementary relationship based on mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual admiration between men and women。 Therefore, Hemingway created beautiful, kind, brave, dedicatory ideal female images。 Such as Catherine in A Farewell to Arms, Maria in For Whom the Bell Tolls, Marita in The Garden of Eden。

In A Farewell to Arms, it’s believed that Catherine was the model of Angel。 Catherine was the kindest, most romantic and courageous women in Hemingway’s works。 When getting pregnant, she also dared to go to Switzerland overnight; In difficult labour, after struggling with death for hours, she could also comfort her lover Henry。 She built a spiritual shelter and safe haven for Henry。 Thus, Catherine’s brave and sincerity embodied the value of the female。