There's a lot more to the things they carried then simply the Vietnam War. But that's my jumping off point because that's what I know I know. and now you know what I know and the suchlike...
but more to the point the Vietnam War was not the first to use propaganda but was the first to have such elaborate propaganda as Richard Nixon's strategy of simultaneously reducing troop numbers while expanding the war into Cambodia, the less than secret bombings, and other ways of distancing the war. On the other hand Walter Cronkite's reporting might not have ended the war but it did bring up the ambiguous nature of the war.
This translates into the ambiguity of "the true war story" As the author concludes on Pg 85 "You can tell a true war story if you just keep on telling it." All the finer details are up for grabs, "Adding and subtracting, making up a few things to get at the real truth." So that is one theme to consider. another potential thesis might be exploring the metaphorical and literal burden's experienced by the squad.
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I wold love to see you look more into he physical and metaphorical burdens they bare. And I honestly believe that what your wealth of knowledge about Vietnam would be perfectly appropriate to add in. Remember though! The essay will be more about the book than about the war itself. I think you could possibly tie in the news coverage of the war to the uncertainty of truth theme that is extremely obvios in this story. As Mr. Menendian would say, "It's time to flex those social science muscles!"
ReplyDeleteWhy does O'Brien tamper with the actual truth (if there is such a thing)? How can this create a better truth than what there already is? This tampering with reality, does it really change the "truth" and make it better, or more believable? (Just a Few questions) Also, for your essay DO FLEX YOUR SOCIAL SCIENCE MUSCLES!! But also remember this is a literature class, so focus more on the stories/novel than the war-a little goes a long way, and quote a source beyond your vast knowledge. :)
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