"Jarhead"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the autobiography, "Jarhead", by Anthony Swofford, which tells the story of the author's life before entering the Marines, the time of his engagement in the Middle East, and some of his struggles in reintegrating into civilian life after the war. The paper also critiques the book and comments on the author's excessive use of description.

From the Paper:

"One of the most critical revelations in Swofford's Jarhead is the depiction of the soldiers as simply human, flawed, and ultimately scared young men. There are no over-the-top heroic posturing here, as the elite special forces solder tells about the terror that led him to wet himself as rockets exploded close by. His tale ultimately makes the reader wonder if the soldiers sent into operation Desert Storm were as coolly professional and prepared as the government's spin machine made them out to be."

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