Mary Anne Bell In The Song Trabong By Tim O Brien

Mary Anne Bell is my favorite character because she redefines gender roles in the brute nature of the Vietnamese War. She portrays dynamic character development that is far more intense than all the other characters. The author, Tim O’Brien, uses Mary Anne Bell’s character to signify how war can manipulate people’s ideologies and expectations. Mary Anne Bell’s character is complex because it is difficult to analyze as to why she allows herself to fall susceptible to the war much quicker. The environment of the Vietnamese War becomes gender neutral allowing Mary Anne Bell to break out of her feminine qualities. O’ Brien shows that even a female character such as Mary Anne Bell who was once a young pure and innocent girl can be affected by trauma of war. Initially I’d never expect that a female character such as Mary Anne Bell, who isn’t even a soldier, could assimilate her so well within the environment. Mary Anne Bell’s character is colorful because of her sudden change in character development. The Chapter “Sweet Heart of the Song Trabong” contradicts that notion of …show more content…
“The way she quickly fell into the habits of the bush. No cosmetics, no fingernail filing. She stopped wearing jewelry, cut her hair short and wrapped it in a dark green bandanna. Hygiene became a matter of small consequence” (72). Mary Anne Bell psychological issue with her gender is could result from her suppressed role as female back in Cleveland Heights and that the Vietnamese War allows her to overcome gender roles and expectations thus creating birth to her rebellious nature. Mary Anne Bell is very naive, analytical, and her inquisitive desire to learn is probably one of the more dangerous aspects of her character or as Eddie Diamond mentions, “There’s the scary part. I promise you, this girl will most definitely learn”