Johnny Got His Gun Literary Analysis

The historical fiction novel Johnny Got His Gun, written by Dalton Trumbo, presents an anti-war theme in an effective manner through the usage of literary devices. Trumbo incorporates loaded language, stream of consciousness, and symbolism in his writing in order to develop a sound argument and to convince the readers of his views. Through his persuasive wording and rhetoric techniques, Trumbo captures the emotional vulnerability of his audience and accurately depicts the absurdity of war as well as the harsh consequences that follow. Throughout the novel, Dalton Trumbo successfully instills his pacifist beliefs through a plethora of loaded language. Joe Bonham, the protagonist, has been stripped of his life and true identity as a living human

By openly displaying the raw emotions of Joe’s internal monologue in a forthright manner, Trumbo once again makes an emotional appeal by connecting to the audience and building sympathy for the main character. “God give me rest take me away hide me let me die oh god how weary how much already dead how much gone and going oh god hide me and give me peace.” (Trumbo 179) The ommitance of punctuation in his writing creates an air of chaotic sentiment which resonates within the minds of the readers and pulls them into the story while also including the anti-war theme in an effort to persuade them and alter their

Trumbo includes various symbols within his writings in order to represent a deeper meaning and deliver a greater impact. Of the most prominent symbols is Joe’s own body which is forever mutilated by the violent effects of war. He is the inhumane product of modern warfare, a manifestation of all the harsh realities. “He had a vision of himself as a new kind of Christ as a man who carries within himself all the seeds of a new order of things. He was the new messiah of the battlefield saying to the people as I am so shall you be.” (Trumbo 240) Joe represents Christ, his missing limbs signify a refashioned crucifixion, and his desire to redeem through sacrifice imitates that of Christ’s sacrificial death. Joe also symbolizes Dalton Trumbo himself in the sense that Trumbo tried to express his anti-war views and yet was not heard, so he published the novel at the expense of sacrificing his