Where Have You Gone Charming Billy Analysis

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Tim O’Brien the author of “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” uses this story to teach us about war. In this story O’Brien shows us the effect war has on a person. Also he wants us to understand that soldiers use many techniques to keep their mind off the war. The author shows us conditions soldiers endure. By writing the story “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” Tim O’Brien gives us an understanding of war. War can and will affect person’s life. Due to fighting in a war soldiers form habits.“Stay alert, he’d been taught. Better Alert than inert. Ag-ile, mo-bile, hos-tile” (O’Brien 199-200). Many habits that soldiers form follow them for the rest of their lives therefore, some can cause psychological issues. Numberless soldiers suffer …show more content…
Therefore, soldiers use many techniques to keep their mind off the world around them. “There were tricks he’d learned to keep from thinking, counting: He counted his step, [...]”(O’Brien 199). Soldiers also sing to distract themselves from war going on. These Techniques are key to soldiers keeping themselves sane. War isn’t a walk in the park. However, soldiers constantly face stench, water, wind and cold. In the Vietnam war soldiers faced landmines, booby traps, and tunnels. “[...] the fecund warmth of the paddy water rising up to his cut knee.” (O’Brien 198). Traveling to and fighting wars in a foreign place would be a challenge due to diseases your body isn’t immune to. Unfamiliar places make it hard for you to get around so, it would also be easier for you to get lost. Yet soldiers are extremely strong people and O’Brien shows us that.
When Tim O’Brien wrote “Where Have You Gone Charming Billy?” he gives us an insight to war. Nevertheless, O’Brien shows us the effect war has on a person, both mentally and physically. Soldiers use many techniques to keep their mind off of war, including songs and counting their steps. Soldiers are very strong people to deal with all the challenges and discomforts they have no choice to endure. So, this story has shown us all how much we should respect and appreciate all veterans and current
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