The setting in this story, the country of Vietnam, is Walker's antagonist. He acknowledges how his shocking actions and experiences upon returning from Vietnam kept him from accomplishing much in the first couple of years after his time in Vietnam: "After I was discharged from the Army, I went home to Chicago and hung around there for a couple of years, haunted by memories and nameless faces. Devoid of hope or expectations, smoking dope and dreaming dreams of torment, I drifted from one meaningless endeavor to the next"
(D. Walker, paragraph 3). Later on in the story, after repairing the cleft-lipped children successfully, Walker is feeling a little atonement and goodwill. This goodwill and atonement will be short lived when he cannot repair the thumbless hands of his trips sponsor Dihn. The failure to graft toes onto Dihn's hand, so he might help his own countrymen again brings Walker back to his antagonist when he states: "God damn this dirty little Job of a country. Nothing turns out right here" (D. Walker, paragraph 140). There is also an unstated or indirect irony that Dihn brings up about Americans versus Vietnamese. Walker states: "Dihn believes that our lives move in circles, repeating themselves endlessly like the four seasons" (D. Walker, paragraph 135). Walker does not believe this, he sees his life on a straight path with a finality at the end of the path. The irony of the beliefs is that after Walker's experience in Vietnam he was completely unmotivated and angry about what he had done and what he felt Vietnam had done to him. He let those feelings control him and in turn wasted significant time. Later on though, Vietnam became a motivator for him. His desire to atone for his actions and to end his pity for himself led him to become a surgeon and begin helping people. This is the great irony of Walker's life. Vietnam was traumatic and devastating for himself and because of himself. In the end it becomes an endless reminder of the good he is capable of and must continue to do.
Two questions for everyone: Do you think Walker spoke to legal counsel before he wrote this story with his confessed actions? How do you think Walker's family felt upon reading his story?
I don't think that Walker spoke to legal counsel before writing this story. These are his first hand accounts and he can do what ever he wants to do with them. I think that his family was shocked about his accounts. I think this was a way of tell his family what had happened with out having to talk face to face with them about every gruesome detail.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Walker talked to legal counsel before writing this story, as the statute of limitations would long be up, as well as the fact that I think the saying "All is fair in love and war" kind of applies. In response to your second question, if I was his daughter I don't know that I would want to read this story, the first paragraph alone was horrifying, and incredibly graphic. It made me cringe to know that things like that happen during war, it's just not something I ever think of, and to think that the man who raised me, who was my dad had taken lives in such malicious ways would really be weird, for lack of a better word. I think they must have been in shock and maybe didn't believe it.
ReplyDeleteHe probably didn't talk to legal counsel after writing this story. It's all about his experiences.
ReplyDeleteBecause Walker wanted his family to believe he was a good man, he never talked about his Vietnam experiences to his family. I think his family would have been totally shocked about his experiences.
Like everyone else, I don't think it would be necessary to seek legal counsel. I'm sure the family was suprised and maybe a bit disgusted by what he had done, but hopefully they were also understanding; after all, the fact that he came home sane from Vietnam is really saying something. So many people came back traumatized, the fact he could start a normal life was surprising.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, it never really occured to me that he should have sought legal council before publishing this story. I think his confession was freely given with nodesire for protection. A cleansing for himself to come clean desiring nothing but the relief he would have.
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