Ambush By Tim O Brien Summary

Does war make us feel safe? Does war make other people feel in danger in their own homes? When troops come home do they feel safe, and secure? Twenty-two troops commit suicide daily. Through the history of the world there has been violence, but how do people feel about war, how do they feel when they come back from war, do they feel safe and secure? In the short story “Ambush” by Tim O’Brien he tells us his first hand encounters with war and how it has impacted his everyday life. In the short story he starts out by saying, “ When she was nine, my daughter, Kathleen asked if I had ever killed anyone.” (O’Brien 811) The quote stated above shows how war can have an impact on people that are directly involved with the war. When we are at war does

How does it make them feel if they take another human’s life. In the short story “Ambush” O'brien states “ Kiowa tried to tell me that the man would’ve died anyways… this is war, that I should shape up and stop staring and asking myself about the dead man…” (Obrien 813) O’brien is starting to feel remorse but his friend Kiowa reassured him that it was a good kill, and this is war stuff like this will happen. O’Brien actions will forever haunt him “I’ll look up and see the young man coming out of the morning fog.” (O’brien 813). O’brien suffers something called “Shell Shock” this would be later called PTSD ( Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). There is no difference from Shell Shock and PTSD. The next quote explains PTSD in Vietnam veterans from the experience of World War II soldiers. “Although there is nothing unique about the causes or symptoms of PTSD with respect to the war experience itself—the "shell shock" of the Vietnam veteran was no different from that experienced by the World War II soldier” ("Commentary on The Unique Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam Veterans.") this quote is perfect for a couple of reason, the first being that PTSD can affect everyone to some degree. The Second, reason being that any war can take a toll on the person that is affected by the war. No matter what kind of war the person may be involved in, it can take affect their lives in a huge ways, just

It can either break them up or bring them closer, In the short story “Ambush” O’Brien states that, “ When she was nine my daughter, Kathleen asked if I had ever killed anyone.” (O’brien 811). The author did what he thought was right and didn't answer his daughters question, he said he would tell her later on when she was older, he wanted to but he felt like she wasn't grown up and mature enough to know what actually happened, so he just held her. The next quote states that war has given family member of the troops a sense of honor. “So the first thing that the war has done to the family is to give it not only a fresh popularity, but a deepened honor.” ("War and the Family"). With knowing this it can show how war can bring families together, the reason why this quote is important is because when Kathleen asked her father if he has ever killed anyone it made him think about his actions and what he had to do to be where he is today, with his daughter in his arms so I believe he is glad what he did so he could hold his daughter in his arms. The way the war has affected his family life was a positive impact, he realized how grateful he was that he pulled the pin on that grenade so he could be where he is today, and not on the other side When we are at war does it make us feel safe, how does it impact the family member that has troops in it, how will war affect