In The Forever War Mandella Analysis

The concept of othering another species in order to view them as an enemy is not only seen with the Taurans in The Forever War. Mandella has an interaction with other aliens, who are described as like “teddy bears” (page 62). They are viewed as enemies and instantly attacked by Earth’s army, although it is unclear if they pose any real threat. It is shown even more clearly in this instance; how the army’s manipulation and training of their soldiers leads to them believing that everything alien to them is a threat. To the reader, the teddy bear like species are not considered a brutal and terrifying enemy but instead adorable and relatively harmless creatures. Therefore, when Mandella and his troops are slaughtering them, his narrative implies …show more content…
Due to Haldeman’s own history of military service, and thanks to interviews he has given, Mandella’s alienation at coming home can be read as a reflection by Haldeman about how returning soldiers feel. The passing of time is different on Earth to the other planets that Mandella has been on, so time has passed more quickly on Earth than it has for him. Customs on Earth have changed, from the job market, currency, and crime rates. Haldeman’s narrative gives several examples in order to create a reflection on how society feels alien to returning soldiers. Mandella finds it hard to adapt and understand why he can’t live his life the way he did before. One way this is shown is when his mother encourages him to “hire a bodyguard, at least until you know your way around” (page 112). Mandella believes he does not need a bodyguard, as he is a trained soldier. However, his mother’s warning is clear when he steps into the lift and finds a man waiting with a pipe who would have attacked had Mandella not implied he was in the army. This small section of the narrative implies that due to the increase of crime on Earth since Mandella left, and how Mandella now feels his freedom to walk around alone has been impeded on. Despite his beliefs about what life should be like, he is forced to recognize that daily life has changed and he must change with it. At the end of the chapter he says “I wanted to walk around the city, but Mother was right. I’d get a body-guard first.” (page 118). This demonstrates Mandella is slowly adapting to life on Earth again, by conforming to the requirements of society. Mandella also feels disappointment at how he is unable to get a job in the world he now lives in, as jobs are allocated on need. He requests a job in physics from a back street job dealer and is told “Research,