Throughout these last few chapters, there was one part that stood out to me as being very ironic. There was a point in the war when Tim O’Brien was shot, but there was a new medic who had just came into the war that day. Bobby Jorgenson, the new medic, was scared and was forgetting all of the important lessons he learned in med school on how to treat a patient. Tim was suffering from shock and the lack of attention to his wound caused him to later develop a fungus that almost mutated into gangrene. Regardless of Jorgensen’s situation being the new guy, Tim had no sympathy. He wanted to get back at him and there was nothing Jorgenson could do or say that would make the situation better. Even though Bobby tried to apologize for his mistake, all Tim could think was “I’ll get him, I’ll get him” (O’Brien 200). Tim wouldn’t accept a handshake from Bobby because he knew that was a sort of truce between them and Tim wasn’t going to give up. Bobby had caused him so much pain and he wasn’t going to let him get away with only a handshake. The traumatizing event O’Brien went through really effected him and he wanted to blame somebody even though he knew it probably wasn’t all Bobby’s fault. He was the new guy, and his apology made Tim say he “hated him for making me stop hating him” which only goes to show that Tim somewhat forgave Jorgenson, only he wanted to blame his injury on somebody. O’Brien was finally able to get his way and got back at Jorgenson by scaring him while he was out on guard late at night. About ¾ of the way through their plan for revenge, Tim wanted to be done, but Azar wouldn’t have it and kicked him in the head. After this was all over and Bobby found out who it was who was playing tricks on him he brought Tim in and fixed up the wound on his head where Azar kicked him. They were able to have a normal conversation and then Bobby asked if the men were “even now?” (O’Brien 217). They shared a handshake and were able to feel the “human closeness . . . almost war buddies” (O’Brien 217). I think it is so ironic that Tim can go from hating Jorgenson and Jorgenson can go from being afraid of what Tim is going to do to him to both being able to fight it out and get to be friendly to each other. I don’t know if is the stresses of war that caused the men to act out in such irrational ways or if it is just the man kind in general, but either way I will never understand their logic in these situations.
O'Brein, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Broadway Books, 1987. Print
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Ashlee, I also found it very ironic that Bobby and Tim ran into each other at the base. Even after Bobby apologized, I found it interseting that Tim still hated him and wanted to play a prank on him. I found it intersting that about 3/4s of the way through, he wanted to call it off, but Azar wanted to continue. Tim sat there while Azar continued on and Tim was feeling some regret. After it was over, they both agreed that they were even. I think you wrote a very nice blog!:)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, Ashlee. I thought that was unnecessary. They could have handled the situation in a different way. I think it was probably just stress from the war. It must be really hard for them and their dealing with many difficulties in this war. Stress seems to be taking over them, which I can't blame them for. I think Tim will always kind of hate Jorgenson or at least be jealous of him, especially since Jorgenson is pretty much taking his position. I don't think they will ever become really close friends. Nice job on your blog!
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Anastasia Ditter