Mountains

Throughout A Farewell to Arms Frederic mentions the mountains whenever he speaks of the war.  In the beginning of the novel, Frederic says that all of the mountains beyond the river haven't been taken or invaded.  Later in the novel (Chapter 19) Frederic says "I did not see how it could go on.  Even if they took all the Bainsizza and Monte San Gabriele there were plenty of mountains beyond for the Austrians.  I had seen them.  All the highest mountains were beyond".  Through his descriptions, Frederic makes the mountains seem pure and untouchable, as if they were a peace he could reach out to but never touch.  They also symbolize the desire to take over more and more land in a war, and how you could never have enough because the highest mountains/largest desires would always be beyond.  I think the mountains really bring up questions about Frederic's desires in the war, and his desires with Catherine.