The literary element that is being used is the plot. D.Walker knows he has done horrible things in Vietnam and try’s his best to get rid of those memories. He does everything to going back to school and becoming a doctor to having a little family of his own. However this doesn’t seem to help him. The only way that helped him make sense of all that he has done is to go back to the very place and back to those very people and help them out. This plot that the author has used is significant because since he is back in Vietnam, the place that has caused him so much pain. When he returns to this place he begins to have flash backs and even some memories on what they used to call the people who reside here. When he is partnered up with a man known as Dinh he comes to a place in himself where knows he is growing. When Dinh needs help himself with making new thumbs, Walker sees Dinh as he is waiving a white flag to him. Dinh had his thumbs removed by the enemies in war and during the operation to replace them;Walker gets flashbacks to when his thumbs were removed by Dinh’s enemies. This point where walker changes. To help this man scared from war also helped Walkers scars. The way the author uses this plot to show how Walker is changing is great. The point in the plot that was played a big part on Walker was when the outcome of Dihns thumbs failed. Right after seeing the outcome, Walker was to fly right back home. The ways the plot was set, showed that even though he could not help everybody, he tried his best.
*Questions:
The end where Walker was hoping to see Dinh at the airport, what did you guys get from that?
It is good that you point out that Walker's use of plot drives the story to its meaning. In regards to your question I believe Walker intentionally makes the narrator hope to see Dinh at the airport to find acceptance. He hopes to find the acceptance from Dinh thanking him for his efforts and moving on from Vietnam. Not only an acceptance from Dinh himself, but also from himself to accept what happened in the past and move on from it. Great Job. (:
ReplyDeleteThe fact that he couldn't help Dinh was catastrophic to his attempt to make up for the horrors he had committed in the Vietnam War. Even in the end I couldn't help but to feel sorry for Doctor as he wished so badly that the "thumb" would come back to life. This symbolizes that no matter how much he tried make up for his past, it will always haunt him for the rest of his life. The ending was contradicting as he welcomes the danger of Vietnam as he sits in the plane. Could he have accepted his past actions as something he can never make up for? I think so.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement of how Walker is filled with guilt and is trying to overcome it by helping others. Especially when he helps Dinh. I think Walker thought if he could help Dinh then he would feel a lot better about all the horrible things he has done. So when the surgery didn't work it only made Walker feel worst. That's why he wanted to see Dinh in the airport so he could apologize and not have to leave feeling so guilty and shameful. Hoping that Dinh would understand and forgive him.
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