I really enjoyed the story Stockings, because it gave more insight into the character Henry Dobbins. He is introduced earlier in the book, as the guy who wears his girlfriend’s stockings around his neck. When I read about that, I thought he was a little crazy. But now, I understand why he wears them. Dobbins used those pantyhose as a coping mechanism. I guess those pantyhose, made him feel secure and safe. Maybe the other soldiers should have carried around something, out in the open like Henry. Maybe it would’ve helped them deal with the war better. I was quite sad, when his girlfriend broke up with him. But, Henry kept on wearing the stockings after that. I think I would’ve kept on wearing them too. They seemed like the only thing that was keeping him sane, out at war.
Dobbins and Kiowa are mentioned further in the story Church. I like how this story focuses mainly on these two characters because, as readers, we don’t really get to hear about them. Dobbins admits that he actually thought about becoming a minister. At first I thought he was joking, but as the chapter went on, I believed him. I couldn’t picture a big, strong guy like Henry actually wanting to be a gentle monk. I could also see why, he’d want to. Being in war, killing people, probably would make anybody want to live the rest of their life peacefully. Being a preacher is the right way to go! Kiowa, was the right guy that Henry talked to because, he knows all about it. Kiowa is a Baptist, and has been involved in the church, for his whole life probably. After the war, maybe the two of them should come back and meet up with the monks. Maybe, they would make a great team!
The Man I Killed, was a sad story. The man Tim O’Brien killed, really had an affect on him. He just sat there and looked at him. Not looked, but stared at him, for hours it seemed like. At first I felt sympathy for the man that Tim killed, but I couldn’t help feeling sympathy for him as well. Tim really did not want to kill this young man. The way he kept describing how the young boy looked, was traumatizing. He just sat there and stared. What else could he do? I don’t think that I would’ve sat and stared, because it’s to gruesome to picture. But the things that was so peculiar was, that Tim stated out facts about the young man, like he knew him. It was his first time in Vietnam, so how did he know all of that information? Maybe when he returned from the war, he looked him and his family up. Maybe the death of that young man had such an impact on him, that he made all of those things up, to try to make himself feel better. I don’t know…the only thing I know is that this story made me not want to continue reading L
In the story Ambush, Tim goes deeper in detail about what all happened when he killed the young man. I can picture the whole scene, as Tim describes it. I know it’s weird but it seems familiar to me. Like I’ve seen it in a movie or something. I can picture the foggy night, and the harmless young man appearing on the trail. I don’t blame O’Brien for what he did. I would’ve punked out and probably would’ve gotten myself or someone else killed. I believe he was brave for doing that. He didn’t know that he wasn’t a threat. He was just following senseless orders, which were to kill the enemy. O’Brien was really nervous about killing the young man. I didn’t think he was going to go through with it at first but, I guess he had no choice. It’s amazing that O’Brien still thinks about the young man. It’s quite creepy but I guess things like that stay with a person, especially if that person has never killed before.
Style was another story that left me confused. I didn’t really understand why, this young girl was “dancing” around, after her family was killed. I don’t think she was just simply dancing because she remembered a song. I think that was her way of mourning her family. Maybe, dancing around like that when loved ones die, is a tradition or “ritual”. This story not only confused me, but made me dislike Azar even more. He had no right to mock that young girl. There was a part of me, that wished Henry or another soldier beat him up. I wished that Henry actually through him in the well. I know that’s not very nice of me, but I guess war stories have their effect on me too…
Good LaKeya. The repetition in "The Man I Killed" is crucial, isn't it. It reminds of us his humanity and O'Brien's ability to see it. I think it is pure speculation, not "true," but now we of course have a different appreciation of "truth" with regards to war.
ReplyDeleteI think the "dancing" in style is, as you say, really a kind of hysterical mourning. It could also be a misunderstood ritual . Azar was indeed mocking as he does to different people throughout the novel, trying to cope in his own way