One thing I noticed while reading “In Country” is the reversal of roles Sam and Emmit play. After you start to read the book, the reader would assume that Emmit would play the father figure role to Sam but it happens to be the other way around. Sam is the one who takes care of Emmit through attention and support. The war acted as a reversal of maturing and seemed to stop Emmit’s ability to grow as a human. This problem that Emmit is having is not the first time we have seen this in the stories we have read. It is the first time we have seen a young teenager take care of a Vietnam veteran though. Sam actually has no trouble at all taking care of Emmit and does a very good job at listening to him and showing her love for him. It just makes you wonder why Vietnam made all these veterans lose their ability to grow as a human.
2 comments:
It's interesting how everyone chose this to talk about. It is obviously one of the standout things in the book and I agree with you that war changes people and it's amazing how it causes them to be distant when they return and we see this with Emmett. It's also amazing how Sam is so mature for her age and actually has to take care of her Uncle.
I completely agree with your comment on how Emmett's and Sam's roles are really reversed. Why do you think the war did this to Emmett and to the other veterans?
Post a Comment