John Stubbs" essay is an examination of the defense which he believes Henry and Catherine use to protect themselves from the discovery of their insignificance and "powerlessness...in a world indifferent to their well being..." He asserts that "role-playing" by the two main characters, and several others in the book, is a way to escape the realization of human mortality which is unveiled by war. Stubbs thinks that Hemingway utilized role-playing as a way to "explore the strengths and weaknesses of his two characters." Stubbs says that by placing Henry"s ordered life in opposition to Catherine"s topsy-turvy one, and then letting...
is a point that, although he defends well, is not central to his theory and seems to detract from his objectivity.

The essay is a valuable tool to help the reader understand this view of what is happening through Henry and Catherine"s relationship and how they use each other to maintain their self-images, provide themselves with psychological support, and in a way escape the war. Hemingway may not have been trying to purposely create a role-playing scenario, but Stubbs" essay will benefit someone wishing to explore this aspect of the relationship of the two main characters in greater depth.