Chelley's+Symbolist+Research+on+Things+They+Carried

Chelley Dansereau Mrs. Ackerman American Literature Honors 6 May 2008 Summary Response http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Eras/Display.aspx?storyid=1187612&entryid=263283&issublink=true&fromsearch=false http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=litt24484&tabID=T001&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&contentSet=GALE%7CH1420063939&&docId=GALE|H1420063939&docType=GALE In this article, Maureen Ryan describes the several ways that women were involved in the Vietnam War and the feminist views which were held during this time. Several applications of American novels with female authors are given in attempts to present the issues of controversy such as exclusion of women in the war. With this article referencing multiple women’s views, a specific quote jumped out and brought to mind the story of Mary Anne Bell in //The Things They Carried//. Ryan states, “Susan Jeffords notes that "as a rule, when women appear in Vietnam narratives, it is never as part of the 'brotherhood' that is created in battle. They are instead usually trying to stop their husbands, sons, or lovers from going to Vietnam  " (64). These women do indeed try--largely unsuccessfully--to keep their men from war , and their exclusion from the brotherhood of that experience is apparent. But their brotherhood with the men they love is one that predates Vietnam  and endures long after the  war  is over; that is, in fact, quite literal as well as metaphorical,” (Other Side of Grief). If this is to be true then Tim O’Brien would have to be creating the tale of Mary Anne from the depths of his imagination. But considering this novel to be his outlet of truth, the story is accurate. O’Brien describes a relationship to the exact opposite extent than described in Jeffords’ statement. Mary Anne is an intriguing example of the creation of bonds between soldiers in Vietnam. Despite all odds she fit in perhaps better than a soldier even would. However, her transformation also created a barrier between her and Mark Fosse that proved fatal. In another section of the article, the novel //In Country// is referenced and hints at a veteran’s discontent with the views of women in war. Ryan mentions,“//Bobbie// Ann Mason's 1985 novel, //In Country,// presents in Sam a protagonist who is too young to remember anything about Vietnam  and whose effort to learn is undermined both by her society's lack of interest and male veterans' exclusivity; despite Sam's persistent questions, her Uncle Emmett refuses to discuss his experience in  Vietnam  : "'Women weren't over there,' Emmett snapped. 'So they can't really understand'" (107).” Here again O’Brien presents Mary Anne in a different light allowing women’s rebellion against society to become apparent. Mary Anne was willing to come over to Vietnam if it meant reuniting with her love, and despite the perhaps daunting first impressions of the war, finds herself seeping into the nature itself and discovering a part of her life never before known.  1)  Based on what we know of Mary Anne’s character, would she have ended their relationship back at home if she had never been brought to Vietnam ?   2)   What does the change in color of Mary Anne’s eyes symbolize? Besides the simple statement that she has had a change of character, find the deeper meaning.  3)  What makes listening so vital to Mitchell Sanders? When he is listening to Rat Kiley tell the story of Mary Anne, he claims that Rat destroys the tone with personal commentary. How come this is so important to Sanders?  4)   When O’Brien describes the man he killed, he mentions “Along the trail there were small blue flowers shaped like bells. The young man’s head was wrenched sideways, not quite facing the flowers, and even in the shade a single blade of sunlight sparkled against the buckle of his ammunition belt,” (128). What could be the possible significance/symbolism behind the blue flowers?  5)  Again during the description of the man he killed: O’Brien talks of a butterfly several times. What could this symbolize and how is its relationship to the light significant?  Describe a memory of someone you know who underwent a change of character. Similar to Mary Anne’s change in eyes, what can you come up with as clues for their change?  Works Cited:   Ryan, Maureen. "The Other Side of Grief: American Women and the Vietnam War." __Critique__. 36.1 (Fall 1994) 41-57. Rpt. in __Short Story Criticism__. Ed. Thomas J. Schoenberg and   Lawrence   J. Trudeau. Vol. 79.   Detroit   : Gale, 2005. 41-57.  __  Literature  __   __ Resource __   __ Center __  . Gale.   ARAPAHOE     HIGH SCHOOL   . 5 May 2008 .
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