A Passage from "A Farewell to Arms"

"'How did you do it, this rotten thing?' he asked. 'Let me see the plates. Yes. Yes. That's it. You look healthy as a goat. Who's the pretty girl? Is she your girl? I
thought so. Isn't this a bloody war? How does that feel? You are a fine boy. I'll
make you better than new. Does that hurt? You bet it hurts. How they love to
hurt you, these doctors. What have they done for you so far? Can't that girl talk
Italian? She should learn. What a lovely girl. I could teach her. I will be a patient
here myself. No, but I will do all your maternity work free. Does she understand?
She will make you a fine boy. A fine blonde like she is. That's fine. That's all right.
What a lovely girl. Ask her if she eats supper with me. No I won't take her away
away from you. Thank you. Thank you very much, miss. That's all.'" (p.99)

The passage above is Dr. Valentini's examination of Lt. Henry's injured leg. The choice of dialogue that he chose to use here really amplifies his passion for detail of everything and the human characteristics. Hemingway creates the doctors dialogue with all of the words that would come out of an everyday conversation. He ventures in and out of different topics that bring you so close to a tangible conversation. The only thing that makes you realize that you are reading a book and not listening in on a regular conversation is that all of the other dialogue is left out. He makes you rely on how much you have grown to know the character so you could guess on what he would say. This really brought me closer to Lt. Henry, it made me feel like I was his other half. By making me feel like Lt. Henry himself, I further understood Hemingway's need to detail of the human actions.