Robert Butler, in the short story "A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain", combines two narratives that both share the central idea of the story. Dao, the elderly man who is narrating the story is visited by his old friend Ho Chi Minh, where they discuss the past in search for a meaning in their unsettled lives. The second narrative in the story is about how Dao's needs to overcome what has also happened in his life in learning to forgive the loved ones in his life for their actions in order to overcome Vietnam's past. The overall theme of both the narratives is to show the unsettled peace and horror that still exists from the Vietnam War.
Dao is now living in the United Sates, a country that is suppose to show equality and freedom. Also Ho Chi Minh has accomplished great heights for his country; they both are still searching for answers. For example while Ho Chi Minh is standing in Dao's room with sugar glaze in his hands trying to smell the past, on how he has won the country for the Vietnamese, he stated, "I am not at peace" (245). Therefore showing even though one country comes out the victor peace cannot exist from a result of bloodshed.
Dao's son in law Thang, a former colonel in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and his grandson Loi who he suspects shot Mr. Nguyen Bich Le after out on accepting Vietnam's communist government. In order for Dao to attempt to reach a peaceful ending to his life he must be willing to except this fact, and put his family values first, instead of doing the politically correct thing to do. As Dao states at the very end of the narrative, "And perhaps I will be as restless as Ho when I join him" (249).
There is a clear connection in these two narratives, which shows years after the war has ended people have not forgotten what has happened whole living in a new life of oppurtunity. It is important to understand the struggle people go through while they are in search for meaning and peace in their lives after witnessing a horrid war that will be impossible to overcome.
Robert Butler, in the short story "A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain", combines two narratives that both share the central idea of the story. Dao, the elderly man who is narrating the story is visited by his old friend Ho Chi Minh, where they discuss Ho's past in order to search for a meaning from his unsettled peace. The second narrative is a story about how Dao has overcome his past after learning to forgive the loved ones in his life. The overall theme of both the narratives is the search for peace, which is a component of the eight fold path in the Buddhist religion.
ReplyDeleteDao is now living in the United States, a country that is supposed to show equality and freedom. Also Ho Chi Min has accomplished great heights for his country; he still though is searching for answers. For example while Ho Chi Minh is standing in Dao's room trying to smell the past with sugar glaze on his hands he reflects on how he had won the country for the Vietnamese, he stated, "I am not at peace" (p.245). Therefore this statement shows even if one country comes out the victor, peace is difficult to be settled.
Daos' son in law Thang, a former colonel in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and his grandson Loi who he suspects shot Mr. Nguyen Bich Le after speaking out on accepting Vietnam's communist government. Dao is able to reach a peaceful ending in his life by willing to accept this fact and put his family values first; instead of doing the politically correct thing to do.
There is a connection in these two narratives that shows even years after the war has ended people have not forgotten the war while living in a new life of opportunity. It is important to understand the struggle people go through while they are in search for meaning and peace in their life after witnessing a horrid war.