# Rinaldi — A Farewell to Arms character guide > Rinaldi in A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Poor Rinaldi, Rinaldo Sporchissimo, Rinaldo **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Who they are An Italian surgeon and Frederic's closest friend, whose surgical brilliance and appetite for women and drink barely mask a growing despair. ## Relationships ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/the_priest) _friendship_ Rinaldi teases the priest affectionately but respects his quiet faith, creating a bantering yet warm bond. ### [Catherine Barkley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/catherine_barkley) _social_ Rinaldi flirts with Catherine lightly, but she remains politely distant, focused on Frederic. ### [Rinin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/rinin) _friendship_ Rinaldi and Rinin are fellow Italian officers who share a boisterous, drinking friendship. ### [Frederic Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/frederic_henry) _friendship_ Frederic and Rinaldi are close friends and fellow officers, with Rinaldi's boisterousness contrasting Frederic's reserve. ### [Helen Ferguson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/helen_ferguson) _social_ Helen and Rinaldi are polite acquaintances, with Helen often disapproving of his flirtatious nature. ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/the_priest) _friendship_ Rinaldi teases the priest affectionately but respects his quiet faith, creating a bantering yet warm bond. ### [Catherine Barkley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/catherine_barkley) _social_ Rinaldi flirts with Catherine lightly, but she remains politely distant, focused on Frederic. ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/the_priest) _friendship_ Rinaldi teases the priest affectionately but respects his quiet faith, creating a bantering yet warm bond. ### [Rinin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/rinin) _friendship_ Rinaldi and Rinin are fellow Italian officers who share a boisterous, drinking friendship. ### [Catherine Barkley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/catherine_barkley) _social_ Rinaldi flirts with Catherine lightly, but she remains politely distant, focused on Frederic. ### [Frederic Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/frederic_henry) _friendship_ Frederic and Rinaldi are close friends and fellow officers, with Rinaldi's boisterousness contrasting Frederic's reserve. ### [Helen Ferguson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/helen_ferguson) _social_ Helen and Rinaldi are polite acquaintances, with Helen often disapproving of his flirtatious nature. ## In the story ### [A Farewell to Arms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/a-farewell-to-arms) Frederic's friend and fellow officer, a surgeon in the Italian army. ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/book-i) Frederic's friend and fellow officer who introduces him to Catherine. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/ii) Friend who pounds on the window to attract the priest's attention; present in the mess. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/iii) Frederic's roommate and friend, a surgeon who is infatuated with Miss Barkley and borrows money to impress her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Frederic to the hospital, flirts with Helen Ferguson, and encourages Frederic to visit Catherine. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/v) Teases Frederic about his progress with Catherine when he returns to the villa. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/vi) Appears at the end of the chapter, teasing Frederic about his involvement with the British and mentioning his own evening at the Villa Rossa. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/vii) Appears in the mess hall, engaging in conversation and drinking with the officers. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/x) Visits Frederic, brings cognac, discusses medal prospects, and teases him about the priest and Catherine. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xii) Visits Frederic with the major, brings news of Catherine's transfer to Milan, and engages in drunken banter. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/book-ii) Visits Frederic in the hospital, bringing news from the front. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxi) Sends a letter asking Frederic to bring phonograph records. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxiii) Not present in this chapter. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxiv) Not present in this chapter. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxv) Drunk and cynical, expresses deep war fatigue and possible syphilis; baits the priest but shows vulnerability. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxvii) Mentioned as sleeping when Frederic leaves; later noted as gone with the hospital. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/chapters/xxxii) Frederic thinks of him, possibly at Pordenone, and reflects on his worry about syphilis. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters/rinaldi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_farewell_to_arms_se/characters