Essay On Mary Anne Bell In The Sweetheart Of Song Tra Bong

“Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.” – Herbert Hoover. The Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong follows Mary Anne and her boyfriend, Mark Fossie, as they attempt to survive the Vietnam War while stationed at a small outpost. In The Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong, Tim O’Brien utilizes the character arc of Mary Anne Bell to symbolize how war and violence can produce a severe negative affect what would otherwise be a healthy person. When Mary Anne Bell is initially introduced, O’Brien makes it evident that she is a naïve and pure figure. As Mary Anne becomes more familiar with the war-torn environment of Vietnam, O’Brien consistently alludes to Mary Anne developing a new personality. Finally, O’Brien introduces the final character of Mary …show more content…
Mary Anne Bell is primarily representative of a pure and innocent character, and is merely an allure for the men. Shortly after being dropped off at the outpost, O’Brien gives the reader a basic description of both her personality and her physicality. As many of the men are distracted by her looks, she is described as having a “bubbly personality” and a “happy smile” (90-91). Both of these traits convey Mary Anne’s purity and ignorance to the gravity of their situation. Someone who truly understands the gravity of the Vietnam War would not be described of having a “bubbly personality.” Mary Anne’s smile indicates that she tries to remain positive and childlike, even though the war-torn environment is not a place where one would typically smile or find joy. Mary Anne’s childlike nature is reinforced when O’Brien notes that it seems like she only recently graduated from high school (86). In order for a character to be represented as pure, his or her actions must match that innocence. Rather than aiding in ambushes or any events related to violence, Mary Anne’s purpose is to be “good for morale” through wearing a