# Bonello — A Farewell to Arms character guide

> Bonello in A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0005-iii

## Snapshot

An Italian ambulance driver whose cheerful competence curdles into casual violence, he shoots a wounded enemy sergeant and then rifles the corpse's pockets without a flicker of hesitation.

## Who they are

Bonello belongs to Frederic Henry's small crew of drivers, the men who haul wounded soldiers and stray civilians through the collapsing retreat toward Udine. When the ambulance bogs down in the mud, he is the one who asks the lieutenant what to do, then does the ugliest work himself, putting a pistol to a dying engineer sergeant's head and later picking through the dead man's coat for souvenirs. His matter-of-fact brutality, offered without apology or drama, quietly measures how far the war has worn down ordinary men's scruples.

## Relationships

### [Piani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/piani)

_friendship_

Bonello and Piani are fellow ambulance drivers who share camaraderie and mutual support during the war.

### [Aymo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/aymo)

_friendship_

Aymo and Bonello are close comrades in the ambulance unit, often working and joking together.

### [Frederic Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/frederic_henry)

_professional_

Bonello serves under Frederic as an ambulance driver, showing respect and camaraderie.

### [Frederic Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/frederic_henry)

_professional_

Bonello serves under Frederic as an ambulance driver, showing respect and camaraderie.

### [Piani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/piani)

_friendship_

Bonello and Piani are fellow ambulance drivers who share camaraderie and mutual support during the war.

### [Piani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/piani)

_friendship_

Bonello and Piani are fellow ambulance drivers who share camaraderie and mutual support during the war.

### [Aymo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/aymo)

_friendship_

Aymo and Bonello are close comrades in the ambulance unit, often working and joking together.

### [Aymo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/aymo)

_friendship_

Aymo and Bonello are close comrades in the ambulance unit, often working and joking together.

## In the story

### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/book-iii)

Executes a sergeant during the retreat.

### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxvii)

Driver who comments on the brothel evacuation and the retreat.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxviii)

Assists with breakfast, carries wine, and gives a ride to two sergeants.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxix)

Kills the wounded sergeant at close range, expresses a long-held desire to kill a sergeant, and jokes about being an anarchist.

### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxx)

Decides to be taken prisoner, which Frederic and Piani consider foolish.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/bonello
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters