War has many horrible consequences that the people who are not involved do not often understand. People view war as glorious and triumphant for their country when they fail to comprehend the loneliness that it can bring. Loneliness is a prominent component in both Shenandoah and Johnny Got His Gun. In the latter, Joe is a prisoner of his own body and feels that he has nobody there to be with him. Similarly, in the former, the Anderson family incorporates their late mother and wife, Martha, into their daily routines so she does not feel so alone. Although loneliness is expressed differently in both Shenandoah and Johnny Got His Gun, characters in both works experience loneliness as a result of war.
Shenandoah expresses the theme of loneliness in many ways that are displayed in both the beginning and end of the classic movie. Loneliness in Shenandoah is made evident early on within the …show more content…
Joe is a regular soldier involved in the war who has sustained injuries while in combat. He finds himself in what he believes to be a hospital. He cannot determine where he is because he has no arms, legs, eyes, or mouth, as well as being unable to hear. When Joe realizes he has no abilities whatsoever, he feels alone and trapped because he is not able to communicate with anybody about what he is thinking or how he feels. Throughout the entire novel, Joe has this sense of loneliness because of his lack of communication in any way. At some points in the story, Joe wishes that whoever saved him had not because he feels like nothing but flesh and a brain. Joe feels completely alone and wishes he was dead: “[H]e was so cut off from them that even if they were standing beside his bed they would be as distant as if they were ten thousand miles away” (Trumbo 108). Even though Joe could have his family right beside him, he still feels alone because he has nobody to see or talk to which can bring him
Shenandoah expresses the theme of loneliness in many ways that are displayed in both the beginning and end of the classic movie. Loneliness in Shenandoah is made evident early on within the …show more content…
Joe is a regular soldier involved in the war who has sustained injuries while in combat. He finds himself in what he believes to be a hospital. He cannot determine where he is because he has no arms, legs, eyes, or mouth, as well as being unable to hear. When Joe realizes he has no abilities whatsoever, he feels alone and trapped because he is not able to communicate with anybody about what he is thinking or how he feels. Throughout the entire novel, Joe has this sense of loneliness because of his lack of communication in any way. At some points in the story, Joe wishes that whoever saved him had not because he feels like nothing but flesh and a brain. Joe feels completely alone and wishes he was dead: “[H]e was so cut off from them that even if they were standing beside his bed they would be as distant as if they were ten thousand miles away” (Trumbo 108). Even though Joe could have his family right beside him, he still feels alone because he has nobody to see or talk to which can bring him