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What Does The Sweetheart Of The Song Tra Bong Symbolize

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In Tim O'Brien's story "The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" in "The Things They Carried" the author explores the transformative nature of war on the human psyche. Through the use of symbolism and imagery. Tim O'Brien emphasizes the emotional and psychological weight that soldiers carry. One example of symbolism in the chapter is the transformation of Mary Anne Bell, a young girl who joins the soldiers' unit. As the story unfolds, she becomes increasingly comfortable with the violence and brutality of war. Ultimately transforming into a ruthless and skilled soldier. Tim O'Brien uses Mary Anne's transformation to symbolize the profound impact war can have on a person's identity and sense of self.
In addition to symbolism, O'Brien use of powerful imagery throughout the chapter to convey the emotional and psychological toll of war. He describes the landscape of Vietnam with "jungle, swamp, and paddy," and "smoke and mist and silence." These images convey the sense of disorientation and confusion that soldiers experience as they navigate an unfamiliar and hostile environment. Furthermore, the use of imagery underscores the idea that war is not just a physical battle, but also a mental and emotional one. As O'Brien writes, "The war wasn't simply good versus evil, it was also about men who were struggling to find meaning amidst chaos." …show more content…

For example, when Mary Anne arrives in Vietnam, she says, "I want to see what's out there." This quote foreshadows her transformation into a ruthless soldier and the impact that the war will have on her. It also speaks to the broader theme of the novel: the impact of war on the human psyche. Additionally, towards the end of the chapter, when Mark Fossie tries to bring Mary Anne home, he says, "I didn't want her to see this." This quote highlights the psychological trauma that soldiers endure during war and how it can impact their relationships with

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Mary Anne is flown over by Mark to Vietnam and at first the two are inseparable and extremely happy to be together. Mary Anne is fascinated with everything that is going on in Vietnam. From the culture and lifestyle of the native people to how to shoot a gun, Mary Anne wants to learn all about life in Vietnam. Soon Mary Anne becomes so obsessed with the war that she goes out on an ambush in the middle of the night with the Green Berets (O’Brien 97). Mark Fossie is enraged that Mary Anne would go off on an ambush.

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Mary Ann is the girlfriend of Mark Fossie who is brought in for a visit, however this visit is the start to her obsession with the war. Mary Anne had a normal life with normal goals before she was dropped into the war. O’Brien says, “From the sixth grade on they had known for a fact that someday they would be married, and live in a fine gingerbread house near Lake Erie, and have three healthy yellow-haired children, and grow old together, and no doubt die in each other's arms and be buried in the same walnut casket.” (94) A regular teenage girl with regular visions of the future arrives to aid the hurt and before she know it these goals are just a blurry memory of her old innocent childhood. This girl who had only come down for a visit soon sees the life of Vietnamese culture and learns more, at this point it's seen as just a fun learning experience.

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The more Mary Anne was there the more comfortable she got and she started to become out of control. The soldiers had no idea who she was becoming and they knew it was because of the war, “For a long while the girl gazed down at Fosse, almost blankly, and in the candlelight her face had the composure of someone perfectly at peace with herself” (O’Brien, 105). Rat Kelly’s memory recalled Mary Anne changing while she was in Vietnam. She started to kill and turn into someone other than when he first emt, but her attitude was still there that everyone loved. O’Brien shared this story readers understand that the war can change anyone and

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As she becomes engaged in the war Mary Anne evolves to embrace the savage beauty of the land and is lured by the mysteriousness of war. Mary Anne’s presence represents a semblance of normalcy and beauty, contrasting with the harsh realities and horror of combat. This beauty lies in her determination to follow her heart despite the dangers surrounding her. Her interest with Vietnamese culture and integration into their way of life reveals both the allure and the terrifying consequences of war. The beauty lies in her curiosity and willingness to embrace new experiences, even in the midst of a war zone.

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In the Novel The Things They Carried, the author, Tim Obrien recalls multiple stories during one of the most devastating wars in United States history. Through storytelling, Obrien casts light upon the horrifying reality of the Vietnam war and the struggles that Obrien’s men encounter, as well as all the other soldiers. Obrien uses the novel to represent the paradox that war is both horrible and beautiful. Obrien displays this through Ted Lavenders death, Curt lemons death, and the killing of the baby water buffalo. Obrien portrays the paradox that war is both horrible and beautiful through the death of Ted Lavender.

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93-94.) Mary Anne discovers her love for an adrenaline rush, but she does not stop there. She begins to go out on ambushes with the Greenies, and Mark Fossie could barely recognize her with her new look and necklace of human tongues. Mary Anne enjoyed her duty in Vietnam, as said, “‘Got hooked, I guess,’ … You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it’s never the same. For Mary Anne Bell, it seemed, Vietnam had the effect of a powerful drug” (O’Brien. 109.).

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Mary Anne Bell’s character shows how much war really changes someone. She was shipped over to Vietnam by her boyfriend, Mark Fossie, at just seventeen years of age. She was an innocent, young and pretty girl from Cleveland Heights. When she first arrived,

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