In the opening paragraph, the narrator mentions "cold" twice and also mentions the season (fall) two times. This opening scene contains dead animals hanging outside of the shops. This might be a typical autumn day in Milan. But it is during the war (the narrator notes this). The images of cold and death reflect these aspects of war. So, there is a dark tone to the opening paragraph but Hemingway adds some pleasantness and this perhaps symbolizes the narrator's relief of being away from battle:
Then the electric lights came on, and it was pleasant along the streets looking in the windows.
In the first sentence, the narrator says "the war was always there, but we did not go to it anymore." This suggests a conflicting tone. The menace and memory of the war is always present but the narrator and his fellow soldiers are away from it so there is some solace in that. But the presence of the war and its affects override any solace or pleasantness in Milan.
Although they are away from battle and in a hospital to be cared for, note the sarcasm when the narrator describes the hospital equipment where they "sat in the machines that were to make so much difference."
The major, in particular, shows bravery and determination even though he has no real hope of a decent recovery. Upon learning that his wife has just died, the major has a slight breakdown. He scolds the narrator for wanting to get married. Note the hopelessness in his rant:
If he is to lose everything, he should not place himself in a position to lose that. He should not place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose.
The major, the narrator, and perhaps the others are at this hospital to get better. But there is a prevailing hopelessness initiated by the war that keeps suppressing their spirits.
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