Essay about Speaking of Courage - 454 Words

Speaking of Courage In the literary work, Speaking of Courage, Tim O’Brien highlights the trying struggle of a post-war solider attempting desperately to integrate himself back into American society. Paul Berlin’s trials and tribulations exemplify the â€Å"dominance of a citizen culture in the United States,† as mentioned by Dr. Decker in class. American society does not allow for the soldiers we have sent off to fight to return as warriors. While Speaking of Courage is based on Paul’s experience after the Vietnam War the effect of the citizen culture can be seen throughout history. Americans are not generally known to have an imperial, blood thirsty nature. We choose to â€Å"conquer† the world using business or other non-violent means.†¦show more content†¦We see this in Speaking of Courage when Paul is remarking on how no one will speak to him about the war, even â€Å"his father would not talk.† (pg. 244) It was Independence Day, â€Å"the war was over, (and for Paul) there was no place in particular to go.† (pg. 243) O’Brien remarks on many of the towns folk and their preparations for the evening and yet Paul chooses to â€Å"hide† (Dr. Decker) in his fathers Chevy. One who is more comfortable spending hours driving aimlessly on a summer holiday, dwelling on medals lost rather than joining in the festivities, can certainly not be deemed fully integrated back in to society. As mentioned in class â€Å"Paul’s obsessive nature shows his intense need to talk about his experiences and his need for assurance that he was brave.† Unfortunately, in our citizen culture, this is often not something that we are willing to listen to. Upon returning home, many of the members of our armed forces are and were viewed as spectral or haunting. Each soldier can be a reminder of something no one wants to think about: war. Speaking of Courage seriously captures what it is like for a soldier to attempt to return to their homeland and have to stop being a soldier due to the citizen culture that influences his or her society. Americans may be squeamish about war but they are ready and willing to send ourShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Guilt In Speaking Of Courage By OTwain910 Words   |  4 PagesO’Brien, but also some of the other men there, such as Azar, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, and Norman Bowker. In the chapters prior, Bowker deals with the guilt of Kiowa’s death even after the war was over and deals with loneliness and isolation in â€Å"Speaking of Courage.† The first indications of Bowker’s feelings of guilt is shown in â€Å"In the Field,† when Azar says he feels â€Å"sort of guilty almost† over Kiowa’s death because he believes if he would have â€Å"kept my mouth shut none of it would’ve ever happened.Read MoreComparison Soldiers Home and Speaki ng of Courage1116 Words   |  5 PagesComparison Soldiers Home And Speaking Of Courage To be engaged in war is to be engaged in an armed conflict. Death is an all too ordinary product of war. It is an unsolicited reward for many soldiers that are fighting for their country’s own fictitious freedom. For some of these men, the battlefield is a glimpse into hell, and for others, it is a means to heaven. 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