In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason is the story of a teenage girl who lives with her Vietnam veteran uncle. This novel could be seen in many ways. In Country could be seen as a love story, a story about post traumatic stress and the effects of the war on veterans, a story about family and a story about America in the 1980's. The novel focuses alot on the bond between family members and comrades. Within Sam's family there is obviously alot of love present between herand her uncle Emmett. Also the reader sees a lot of comraderie among veterans. All of these men share an experience that no one else can fathom. They also share their stuggles with the effects of the war. They all experience complications from the war and have an unspoken knowledge of what eachother suffers through. The novel takes place at a time when the plight of the vietnam veteran had taken a backseat in the collective conscious of America. They were left to fend for themsleves. Veterans had either grabbed the opportunity and made a successful career or left by themsleves to deal with their problems. Even the governement had left these men behind. The government refused to recognize the effects of agent orange on its soldiers.
The novel also portrays the situation in america during the 1980's. Times were changing and this was evident in the popular culture and music present throughout the novel. The music was full of memories of the effects of the vietnam war on the entire culture. Later music had that same anger within that grew from the turmoil of the era. Bruce springsteen and the image of America present in his music is often noted. His music is full of lyrics that speak to Sam and her attempts to find the truth about where she came from. Though it can be said that In Country is a war novel it is really much more. In Country is a love story, and a story about the physical and psycological toll of the war and also the current state of America in the 1980's.
In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason is the story of a teenage girl who lives with her uncle, a veteran of the Vietnam War. This novel could be viewed in many ways. In Country could be seen as a love story, a story about post traumatic stress and the effects of the war on veterans, a story about family, a coming of age story or a story about America in the 1980's. The novel focuses a lot on the bond between family members and comrades. Within Sam's family there is obviously a lot of love present between her and her uncle Emmett. Emmett is the father that Sam never had. Emmett realizes the war has made it impossible for him to have kids so he treats Sam as his daughter. Sam also shows great love for her father whom she never met. Sam’s mother loves her but she leaves Sam behind in favor of a more exciting life in Lexington. Also the reader sees a lot of camaraderie among veterans. All of these men share an experience that no one else can fathom. They also share their struggles with the effects of the war. They all experience complications from the war and have an unspoken knowledge of what each other suffers through. The novel takes place at a time when the plight of the Vietnam veteran had taken a backseat in the collective conscious of America. This was also a time when a new generation of Americans was coming of age, one that did not live to witness the Vietnam War. The Veterans were left to fend for themselves. Veterans had either grabbed the opportunity and made a successful career, or they were left by themselves to deal with their own problems. Even the government had left these men behind. The government refused to recognize the effects of Agent Orange on its soldiers and did not give them any type of compensation for their ailments. An entire generation of young men felt that the Government had turned its back on them.
ReplyDeleteThe novel also portrays the situation in America during the 1980's. Times were changing and this was evident in the popular culture and music present throughout the novel. The music was full of memories of the effects of the Vietnam War on the entire American culture. The music of the 1980’s had that same anger within that grew from the turmoil of the era. Bruce Springsteen and the image of America present in his music is often noted. His music is full of lyrics that speak to Sam and her attempts to find the truth about where she came from. The novel also tells the story of a select group of kids coming of age. Sam and Dawn are obviously presented with situations that cause them to become adults. They both struggle with their boyfriends and look for greater things that can come out of their life. Sam sees a lot of her mother in Dawn. Dawn is pregnant with the baby of her boyfriend and it is looking increasingly likely that she will settle for a life in the same boring town in which she grew up. This is very similar to Sam’s mother who became trapped into a life in boring Hopewell and did not get to experience the world until much later in her life. Sam also comes of age through her quest to find the truth about her father and to help Emmett get over his problems. Sam finally becomes an adult when she realizes her father was not the brave hero she had always dreamed he was. This coupled with her night in the woods when she realizes all of the struggles that Emmett must live through everyday allow Sam to begin looking at the world as an adult. Though it can be said that In Country is a war novel it is really much more. In Country is a love story, and a story about the physical and psychological toll of the war and also the current state of America in the 1980's.