Ten Kliks South Analysis

“Ten Kliks South” v. Tina M. Beller “Ten Kliks South” by Phil Klay and Tina M. Beller’s e-mail found in The New Yorker both contain universal themes that clearly represent the lives and emotions of soldiers who are stationed overseas. For one, “Ten Kliks South” is a personal account of a narrator’s first experiences of death under the circumstances of war. Likewise, Beller’s e-mail is also a first-person report on a traumatic rocket bombing in Baghdad. Both of these pieces illustrate a common portrait, of which there are American soldiers in a foreign and unknown land, a day of violence, and the progression of that such violence into intensive contemplation on the soldier’s respective situations. From both writers, the reader comprehends the daily emotions of war through the use of the first person technique and dialogue. The narrator from “Ten Kliks South” and Tina Beller both prove that: 1) the presence of death can drive soldiers into emotional whirlwinds, and 2) camaraderie is a vital part in recovering from emotional pain. In “Ten Kliks South”, the narrator voids into a distraught state after he takes part in a killing of an enemy group. Hours after the enemy target is

These themes are exemplified by the experiences of the narrator in “Ten Kliks South” and Tina Beller in her e-mail to her parents. The major takeaway from these two pieces is that soldiers undergo tough situations that are unknown to the average human being. Just like everyday humans face the trials and tribulations of life, soldiers too come face to face with situations that can leave an emotional scar. Therefore, it is important for us to show appreciation for soldiers, for all that they do, and for all that they will continue to do for