O'Brien gets his draft notice after he finishes college. In college he opposed the war and didnt want to be part of it. His community pressures him to go to war but he contemplates on what to do. He decides to go to Canada, on his way there he meets an old man that seems to have some sort of influenece on his descision to go to war. O'Briens descision was one that I think he didnt make on his own. Thinking of loyalty, honor, and respect he isnt thinking about what he wants.
In the enemies and friends chapter we can see what war can do to friends fighting on the same side. Jensen thinks that Strunk stoled his knife and they get into in altercation. After the fight is over however Jensen has to watch his back because he feels that Strunk will get him back. Jensen end up breaking his own nose and Strunk admits to stealing his knife. War brings out the worst in the men but at the same time it brings out the best in them as well. Realizing that they have an common enemy they cant afford to be fighting one another. Strunk and Jensen form a friendship and make a pact that if one of them is seriously injured the other would kill him to end his suffering. Strunk leg is blown off and he begs not to be killed. A chopper comes to get him and Jensen gets the news that he make the flight and Jensen is relieved. I think that Jensen is relieevd because maybe Strunk wouldnt of wanted to live the rest of his life misearably in a wheel chair. That pact that they made I believe was quite common in Wars instead of being in pain and torment a buddy would kill his friend to end his pain.
If O'Brien didn't make the decision on his own, who helped him make it? Why doesn't he go to Canada?
ReplyDeleteDo they actually realize that "they have a common enemy" so "they can't afford to be fighting one another"? I'm not so sure. Strunk dies of course. So this chapter juxtaposes a trivial crime (theft) with a profound one (war). And yet these crimes bring these men together. Does this reflect a larger theme in the novel?