The definition for Vietnam literature contains many characteristics to this unique subject. Like Susan Farell states in her essay “The Literature of the Vietnam War”, “The bulk of these early accounts are personal narratives which focus on the experiences of the combat infantryman--the grunt or foot soldier.” This large amount of personal stories shows that one characteristic of the definition of Vietnam literature is that it is personal. Another characteristic of Vietnam literature is the honest truth it displays. This truth however does not depict the usual heroic war story that many other wars have personified. This truth shows the atrocity and evil that these soldiers faced and did. The chapter Style in “The Things They Carried” shows a good representation of Vietnam literature. This chapter talks about walking through a village that had just been burned down and seeing three burned bodies and a young girl who was dancing outside of her burned hut after her family had just been killed. The personal narrative and true honesty in this story represents what Vietnam literature truly is.
2 comments:
I think you raise a very good point here. It's easy for all of us to generalize about the war but the truth is it was different for each soldier. Though I'm sure the majority would have rather not gone, they all have their own reasons for the things they did and didn't do and so its very personal for every soldier.
I agree with you both. The individuality of the stories are what is making research about Vietnam endless. Every one had their own experiences, their own witnesses, and even more important their own pain.
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