Bertrand Russell once said, “War does not determine who is right—only who is left,”—this is true. War is not a normal dinner table topic; for that reason, studying war literature gives one the opportunity to expand his or her knowledge regarding war and its realities. While studying war literature, one gets the chance to learn about patriotism, heroism, and suffering; therefore, all three or at least one of these characteristics must be depicted in a war literature text, especially since it is a complex literary genre. In this paper, readers will have the opportunity to learn how patriotism is portrayed as a major theme in Klay’s “Redeployment,” how Wiesel’s, Night portrays heroism as the overall theme of the text, and how Turner’s “A Soldier's Arabic,” teaches readers, that war soldiers are war victims as well, not just…show more content… Readers will also get the chance to learn about the importance of studying the effects that a particular war has had historically on literature.
Patriotism refers to one’s love for their country, especially a war soldier’s love for his country. After reading Klay’s “Redeployment,” readers learn that a soldier's domestic life is no longer the same upon return from combat; therefore, adjusting to one’s domestic life becomes a soldier's ultimate nightmare. Nonetheless, readers are able to conclude that a war veteran loves his country with all his heart; he is the epitome of patriotism. Patriotism is a major theme, as well as a major characteristic that a literary war text must contain in order for it to be considered war literature. The portrayal of patriotism in a war literature enables readers to realize that there are human beings who are willing to risk their lives for their country: “Outside, there’re people walking around by the windows like it’s no big deal. People who have no idea where Fallujah is…” (Klay 12). Here, Klay is also trying to inform the readers that
