A crucial underlying message to understand is that even though Rat Kiley’s story may not be based on true facts per se, it’s message is true, which serves the story’s purpose. Tim O’Brien, the narrator explains that he and other soldiers listening were often skeptical of the legitimacy of Rat’s stories. However, Rat didn’t seem to care whether the soldiers thought the facts of the story were true or not, he wanted them to obtain the understanding of the war that he had obtained. “‘You don’t believe it?’ he’d say. ‘Fine with me. But you don’t know human nature. You don’t know Nam” (93). Rat’s purpose in telling the story of Mary Anne Bell was to teach O’Brien and the other soldiers about Vietnam and help them gain the understanding of the messages the story holds. Though the soldiers question his credibility as a true storyteller, Rat’s indifference to their believing of his stories show how the stories are true regardless of the facts. The purpose of the story is to portray messages to give the reader a better understanding of “Nam,” so the semantics, in this case, are what’s important - not the “facts” of the story by which the message is delivered. Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong shows how The Things They
A crucial underlying message to understand is that even though Rat Kiley’s story may not be based on true facts per se, it’s message is true, which serves the story’s purpose. Tim O’Brien, the narrator explains that he and other soldiers listening were often skeptical of the legitimacy of Rat’s stories. However, Rat didn’t seem to care whether the soldiers thought the facts of the story were true or not, he wanted them to obtain the understanding of the war that he had obtained. “‘You don’t believe it?’ he’d say. ‘Fine with me. But you don’t know human nature. You don’t know Nam” (93). Rat’s purpose in telling the story of Mary Anne Bell was to teach O’Brien and the other soldiers about Vietnam and help them gain the understanding of the messages the story holds. Though the soldiers question his credibility as a true storyteller, Rat’s indifference to their believing of his stories show how the stories are true regardless of the facts. The purpose of the story is to portray messages to give the reader a better understanding of “Nam,” so the semantics, in this case, are what’s important - not the “facts” of the story by which the message is delivered. Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong shows how The Things They