Summary Of Sweetheart Of The Song Tra Bong

"Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" written by Tim O’Brien and published in 1990, is a capturing look into the background of the Vietnam War. O’Brien explores themes such as identity and gender roles. Through the character of Mary Anne, O’Brien goes through the complexities of gender dynamics, and how war changes traditional outlooks of femininity and masculinity. The portrayal of gender throughout the story analyzes the changes that occurred with Mary Anne. She goes through a journey from being a symbol of innocence and fit within standard femininity, to a woman who defies these traditional gender roles. O'Brien's portrayal of gender invites readers to reconsider societal expectations within society and shows the potential that comes with experience …show more content…

O'Brien contrasts Mary Anne's representation with her involvement in the war, showing gender norms conflicting. Mary Anne's involvement and curiosity of the war environment shows powerful views of gender roles in these conditions. Complexities of gender dynamics and how they are shaped and reshaped by the affliction of war, Mary Ann. Mary Ann’s clothing was looked at by the men as feminine and fit within the beauty standard. As they visited the village in Vietnam, Rat Kiley describes Mary Ann as “This seventeen-year-old girl in her goddamn culottes, perky and fresh-faced, like a cheerleader visiting the opposing team’s locker room.” (O’Brien 96) This shows how the men saw her as a curious innocent girl who does not understand the harshness of war. When she had lost her innocence, and became one of the greenies, Rat Kiley described how “In part it was her eyes: utterly flat and indifferent. There was no emotion in her stare, no sense of the person behind it. But the grotesque part, he said, was her jewelry. At the girl's throat was a necklace of human tongues.” (O’Brien 110) They become disgusted by the changes they have witnessed and do not come to think about how she is feeling throughout, instead they see her losing her femininity which has been replaced with their view of …show more content…

Mary Anne's ability to seamlessly integrate into the male-dominated environment of the war shows the subjective ways of gender roles when confronted in different environments. These gender roles suggest that individuals can transcend traditional views and shape their identities through conflict. The fluidity in gender expression looks at the adaptability required to survive in the unpredictable landscape of war. In “Civilian Women at War: Psychological Impact Decades After the Vietnam War” the author McCormack L touches on the challenges women face in the war and the trauma they deal with decades after, “National women in war zones are often subjected to unwanted sexual experiences, including forced prostitution, rape, and physical threat.” This relates back to Mary Anns experience because although this did not happen to her, the men saw her as an object, they saw her as a prize that her boyfriend Mark had. Rat Kiley describes her as an object of desire, when emphasizing her physical appearance and the romantic fantasy she represented to the soldiers. “But among the medics there was some envy. It was Vietnam, after all, and Mary Anne Bell was an attractive girl.... she had terrific legs.... Out on the volleyball court she wore cut-off blue jeans and a black swimsuit top, which the guys appreciated.” (O’Brien 95). Through these quotes, we see how the