Summary Of The Chapter 'Speaking Of Courage'

Every Veteran’s Day, America celebrates the past and present citizens who have served this country; however, many do not truly understand or appreciate the sacrifice these soldiers made. In the chapter “Speaking of Courage” Time O’Brien describes Norman Bowker’s struggle to adjust to civilian life, and his guilt that he carried after witnessing his fellow soldier, Kiowa, die. The chapter is centered around the image of Bowker driving his father’s truck around a lake on the Fourth of July. O’Brien provides his commentary on the war, conveying the damaging affect serving one’s country can have on life after battle. The chapter also focuses on the ignorance and selfishness of humans to not appreciate those coming back from war.
The guilt associated with surviving a war and the treatment of those survivors manifests itself in Bowker’s story. In the beginning of the chapter, Bowker ponders what conversations with Sally, his former girlfriend, and his father would be like. Through this, he …show more content…
On top of the struggles a soldier faces post-war, most Americans don’t fully appreciate the sacrifice made in service a country. Through the story of Bowker, who represents the lives of many soldiers returning from war, one can see the guilt he feels after Kiowa’s death and how his faith died with his friend. The lake really symbolized the façade that the civilian life has because everything in the town looks peaceful and happy on the outside, but in reality, the town is a representation of America’s ignorance and selfishness in not reaching out and helping veterans. Veterans like Bowker who survived the war didn’t truly survive, because the guilt and loneliness that they will have to life with for the rest of their lives will become a completely new and unescapable war within