The structure of a novel can greatly impact the outcome of it. It can help the plotline move along. Using different methods, the author can shape the structure to help the reader understand important aspects. The novels Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien showcase some of these techniques. They make the stories more interesting and complex through the structures they use in the course of the novel. Both authors use similar techniques, the they chose these techniques for specific reasons, and the techniques help the reader identify and comprehend the themes of the novels. First, both authors use some of the same structural elements in both novels. For example, in the novel Love Medicine, Louise Erdrich
…show more content…
For instance, Erdrich and O’Brien use this structure to help the reader better understand the events. In Love Medicine the reader is shown the love triangle between Nector, Marie, and Lulu. Each one has a different view on one another that changes throughout the course of the novel. Nector views Lulu as someone he cannot have, yet he wants her once he is grownup and starts an affair with her (122, 136). He loves Marie, but he sees her as a burden (67, 122). Marie views Lulu in a negative way while loving Nector despite his easiness to control, but she begins to find friendship with Lulu after Nector’s death (159, 67, 150, 293). Lulu wants Nector but does not while she dislikes Marie but later does (274, 278, 133, 293). The reader is shown that the love triangle is very complex with changing views, but it also shows that people change. The same is seen in The Things They Carried with the death of different characters. One example of this is Ted Lavender 's death where O’Brien focuses on Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and Kiowa’s perspectives (22,16-17). With most of the deaths the reader is shown how the dead character exactly died and how they all reacted to it. This lets the reader understand the psychological issues the soldier faced with death, but also with fighting a war they did not want to fight. In addition, by the authors showing the same event through multiple perspectives, the reader can …show more content…
For example, the shifting points of view with the love triangle in Love Medicine shows the importance of love and dedication while showing forgiveness. Marie and Lulu dislike each other but find forgiveness in Nector’s death (293). Nector loves both women, and both women love him (136, 67, 274). Marie also forgives Nector in a way after he tries to leave her (161). Also, in The Things They Carried the different emphasis on the character’s perspectives help the reader understand the theme of war being beauty. The perspectives show the damage war can cause physically and mentally like with Rat Kiley physically hurting himself because he was mentally corrupt (212). Also, the use of the mini stories help to understand multiple themes. In Love Medicine the mini stories show different events that happened to different characters. They each have their own issues, and they all change in different ways. Lipsha becomes more accepting of his life after he is told who his mother is (301), and June becomes one with nature after an abusive relationship (7). The mini stories in The Things They Carried help to show individual morals and little themes through each story. Some examples include the ending of chapter four where if one does not stand up for oneself you are a coward (58), and chapter five where one can only trust to a certain extent due to human nature
For instance, Erdrich and O’Brien use this structure to help the reader better understand the events. In Love Medicine the reader is shown the love triangle between Nector, Marie, and Lulu. Each one has a different view on one another that changes throughout the course of the novel. Nector views Lulu as someone he cannot have, yet he wants her once he is grownup and starts an affair with her (122, 136). He loves Marie, but he sees her as a burden (67, 122). Marie views Lulu in a negative way while loving Nector despite his easiness to control, but she begins to find friendship with Lulu after Nector’s death (159, 67, 150, 293). Lulu wants Nector but does not while she dislikes Marie but later does (274, 278, 133, 293). The reader is shown that the love triangle is very complex with changing views, but it also shows that people change. The same is seen in The Things They Carried with the death of different characters. One example of this is Ted Lavender 's death where O’Brien focuses on Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and Kiowa’s perspectives (22,16-17). With most of the deaths the reader is shown how the dead character exactly died and how they all reacted to it. This lets the reader understand the psychological issues the soldier faced with death, but also with fighting a war they did not want to fight. In addition, by the authors showing the same event through multiple perspectives, the reader can …show more content…
For example, the shifting points of view with the love triangle in Love Medicine shows the importance of love and dedication while showing forgiveness. Marie and Lulu dislike each other but find forgiveness in Nector’s death (293). Nector loves both women, and both women love him (136, 67, 274). Marie also forgives Nector in a way after he tries to leave her (161). Also, in The Things They Carried the different emphasis on the character’s perspectives help the reader understand the theme of war being beauty. The perspectives show the damage war can cause physically and mentally like with Rat Kiley physically hurting himself because he was mentally corrupt (212). Also, the use of the mini stories help to understand multiple themes. In Love Medicine the mini stories show different events that happened to different characters. They each have their own issues, and they all change in different ways. Lipsha becomes more accepting of his life after he is told who his mother is (301), and June becomes one with nature after an abusive relationship (7). The mini stories in The Things They Carried help to show individual morals and little themes through each story. Some examples include the ending of chapter four where if one does not stand up for oneself you are a coward (58), and chapter five where one can only trust to a certain extent due to human nature