O'Brien:" In the Lake of the Woods"

From the Paper:

"As in life, loss is represented in several ways in the novel In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien. This novel shows the way the Vietnam War still holds a grip on the American psyche and some of the reasons why this is so. The war itself represents a theme of loss for many, since it was the only war the United States could be said to have "lost," though some have tried to put a different spin on the withdrawal of troops from that country. The primary loss in the book, however, is personal loss, and the war becomes an instance to detail the loss one man experiences when his image of himself is shattered and when he loses his sense of right and wrong, his sense of personal virtue, and is left with a burning need to atone for something for which he does not believe atonement is possible. Because of this unresolved need within him, he loses much more over the years."

More papers on O'Brien:" In the Lake of the Woods":

• Analytical Essay # 47166 : "Four Hours in My Lai"
• Analytical Essay # 122211 : "Forgiveness in "A Touch of the Poet"
• Analytical Essay # 5980 : "John's Trials"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: