The Juxtaposition of Beauty and Horror in Bao Ninh's The Sorrow of War
In Bao Ninh’s The Sorrow of War, Ninh incorporates juxtaposition throughout the novel to compare the beauty and horror of war. With every gruesome aspect, such as rape and harm relating to war, comes beautiful details. War is such a horrific and morbid event, yet Bao Ninh describes lovely scenes that contradict significantly to the horrors of war.
Ninh first used juxtaposition when he mentioned the horrific events that happened to three farm girls; these three girls were barbarically raped by four commandos. Kien and his troops found “the blood stained bra” (35) belonging to Hoa Bia, one of the three girls. After the three girls were brutally raped, the gang of commandos …show more content…
Hoa sacrificed herself to save Kien. Hoa and Ken searched for a safe spot to bring injured soldiers when they were met by some American troops and a dog. Prior to running into the Americans, Kien had reprimanded Hoa, who was only the tender age of twenty, for getting them lost. Hoa sensed danger and weighed her options; she could either sacrifice herself and let others live, or save herself and risk the lives of many. Selflessly, courageous Hoa chose the first option. As Hoa sacrificed herself, Kien observed how “she was a magnificent portrait of courage as she stood against the setting sun, her lovely slim body erect,... the setting sun silhouetted her against the Crocodile marshlands, tingeing her skin copper color, giving it the appearance of a bronze statue” (190-191). Hoa was the essence of beauty as she ran through the field to kill the dog. However, the beautiful image was destroyed as the soldiers “set about stripping Hoa” (191). Not only was Hoa’s dignity stripped, but as was her courage. The beauty was ruined by the horror of Hoa’s rape. This terrible event resonated with Kien he contemplated if “such sacrifices were were now an everyday occurrence” (192). He realized that sacrifice was one of the many horrors of
In Bao Ninh’s The Sorrow of War, Ninh incorporates juxtaposition throughout the novel to compare the beauty and horror of war. With every gruesome aspect, such as rape and harm relating to war, comes beautiful details. War is such a horrific and morbid event, yet Bao Ninh describes lovely scenes that contradict significantly to the horrors of war.
Ninh first used juxtaposition when he mentioned the horrific events that happened to three farm girls; these three girls were barbarically raped by four commandos. Kien and his troops found “the blood stained bra” (35) belonging to Hoa Bia, one of the three girls. After the three girls were brutally raped, the gang of commandos …show more content…
Hoa sacrificed herself to save Kien. Hoa and Ken searched for a safe spot to bring injured soldiers when they were met by some American troops and a dog. Prior to running into the Americans, Kien had reprimanded Hoa, who was only the tender age of twenty, for getting them lost. Hoa sensed danger and weighed her options; she could either sacrifice herself and let others live, or save herself and risk the lives of many. Selflessly, courageous Hoa chose the first option. As Hoa sacrificed herself, Kien observed how “she was a magnificent portrait of courage as she stood against the setting sun, her lovely slim body erect,... the setting sun silhouetted her against the Crocodile marshlands, tingeing her skin copper color, giving it the appearance of a bronze statue” (190-191). Hoa was the essence of beauty as she ran through the field to kill the dog. However, the beautiful image was destroyed as the soldiers “set about stripping Hoa” (191). Not only was Hoa’s dignity stripped, but as was her courage. The beauty was ruined by the horror of Hoa’s rape. This terrible event resonated with Kien he contemplated if “such sacrifices were were now an everyday occurrence” (192). He realized that sacrifice was one of the many horrors of