General David W. Papel's Short Story

As stated in the thesis, Timothy O’Brien also writes his short story, “How to tell a True War Story,” in the first person narrative, although the style in which he narrates is quite different than from the style in “A & P.’’ O’Brien, who was an actual soldier in the Vietnam War takes on more of an autobiographical approach to telling his “true war story.”

Less than a page later, O’Brien writes about a memory involving Jimmy and Martha at a movie theatre. He recalls the movie they saw, what happened between them, and what he wishes would have happened as well. The more they occur, these flashbacks serve as a contrast acknowledging that the country of Vietnam is not the only thing that is war-torn.

Staples argues that race, gender, and class within the United States are unfair, and his use of imagery throughout his writing helps dictate his opinions. Much of his writing uses specific descriptions that help the reader feel as if he/she were in his shoes. His use of imagery helps set a convincing tone and elicit empathy from the reader as the story continues. The more descriptions he uses in his writing help illustrate the setting to show the reader his environment. As the audience grows closer to piece, and creates an emotional attachment to Staples himself, they begin to understand his perspective on racial tensions and how they continue to be prevalent in our society today. Toward the middle of his story, as he explains the different places he could be discriminated against, he says “elsewhere - in SoHo, for example, where sidewalks are narrow and tightly spaced buildings shut out the sky- things can get very taunt indeed” (Staples 1). This gives the reader the ability to visualize the specific story he is sharing. The words “narrow” and “tightly spaced” help the reader picture an alley. The

Through manipulation of language, Staples demonstrates his comprehension of the effect this discrimination had on innocent black males. Since he has had firsthand experience in this matter, Staples discerns his situation as an “unwieldy inheritance” with “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.” Clearly, Staples feels as if he was cursed, for he was constantly treated like a “fearsome entity with whom pedestrians avoid making eye contact with.” This put him in an

1. “In any war story, especially a true one, it’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seems to happen becomes its own happening and has to be told the way. “ (71)

Everyone is different, has their own personality and views but it is not an uncommon occurrence when their way of thinking clashes or is challenged with others. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird (T.K.A.M) and Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, while set in different time periods, explore similar issues of discrimination which are shown through techniques used by the authors.

William Gay’s short story, “The Paperhanger” does an outstanding job illustrating how social class, judgement, and deception effect the modern world. Today’s society relies on social class and appearances to gain opinions, which directly affects how people interact and treat with one another. Subsequently, this puts people at risk for deception because things are not always as they seem. While someone with a high social stature may appear honest and hardworking on the outside, their inner personality traits may be very different. On the other hand, someone who seems poor and nasty on the outside may loyal and hardworking on the inside. William Gay demonstrates the themes of social inequality, judgement, and deception through his characters’ interactions with one another. While each character in the story are equally important, some characters tend to think they are more important than others. This leads to social strife, inaccurate judgements, and cruel malicious deception.

decides to lie about his war stories and his experiences to make his family and his hometown

“The community broke into complete chaos. Everybody and everything was out of order. When the wave of painful memories hit, the people dropped to the floor and held their heads in excruciating pain. We should have thought this through more carefully Jonas. I would never have believed that such anarchy could become in such a peaceful community. But the memories were too harsh. Riots were started. Fires burnt down the buildings. Some jumped into the river and died just

“FIRE!” the captain screamed. The battle was at a draw with both the British and Americans firing volley after volley of lead at each other. The air was filled with smoke, the screams of dying men, and rumble of artillery near by. Then, all of a sudden the British pulled back and headed to their camp. The Americans were also heading back to their camp. The battle had started 2 days ago and both sides couldn’t break each other’s hold on the other. Both generals didn’t know what to do, but both vowed to never surrender.

Within this chapter O’Brien repeatedly reuses the phrase “A true war story” to create emphasis once again. This chapter shows how storytelling can alter an actual experience; depending on how you tell the story. Each story O’Brien tells within this chapter first has a statement then has a story and then another statement to finish. According to O’Brien, true war stories do not generalize, they do not indulge in abstraction or analysis. O’Brien then goes into an actual story about Curt Lemon and his death.

r. Mcloud wrote a book about Evansville in World War II. In this book Dr. Mcloud wanted to ensure people that the story of Evansville in this time would not be lost, but passed on. In the beginning of his speech, he thanked people for helping him get the information he needed in order to write his book. He also thanked everyone that set up and gave him the opportunity to have the book signing. After thanking these people, Dr. Mcloud acknowledged all of the Veterans in the room. To my surprise there were many. Dr. Mcloud then showed a picture of his father, who was a veteran from WWII. named Lachlan Macleod. He was in the navy and sailed the sea passing on desired supplies. Finally, Dr. Mcloud acknowledged his children and his wife, Jessica.

Page 120-121 “...the young man would not have wanted to be a soldier...try not to grow up too fast.”

Power binaries are a prevalent feature in all societies, past and present. One group in power holds the position at the top of the binary and, in doing so, pushes those who do not fit into the group to the bottom, socially and politically powerless. During the 1930’s in America, the most significant binary was the division between whites and people of color, specifically African Americans. (“Historical Context: Invisible Man”). Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man explores this time period through the story of an unnamed narrator struggling to find his individual identity as a young black man in a world that is constantly holding him down. The trials and tribulations the narrator endures and the people he encounters on his journey exemplify how the imbalanced power structure of a racist society will not truly allow even successful people of color to obtain substantial power unless they twist the definition of power itself.

It started out as a sad and terrible day for Inky Yip. She felt as if her world had turned upside down. That morning she walked to school that day she tripped, and scraped her knee. Yip also lost her homework that was due that day, and to top it off her best friend Duke was absent that day.