The author’s word choice is attempting to portray a scene with people who are hysterical. The first time people are shown as being hysterical is when “...there were all kinds of -there were infants and children and women, and the women were crying”(4 Shapiro). The words that show hysteria are all kinds of, and crying. The reason they are crying hard is that Saigon is going to be gone soon , and they are scared of what will happen to them and their family. Another time people are hysterical is where “...People run and scream Communists! Our ship dips low as the crowd runs to the left, and then to the right”(68 Lai). The words that create a scene with hysteria are run and scream, and dips low to the left. People are not thinking logically,