I know that this is a little bit further back than all the other recent posts, but I'm posting it anyway... so on pages 78-80- right after Curt Lemon was killed, the guys find a baby buffalo and they all stand by and watch as Rat Kiley mutilates the poor animal.
-Why do you think that Rat Kiley displayed his grief in this manner?
"We had witnessed something essential, something brand-new and profound, a piece of the world so startling there was not yet a name for it" (pg 79).
-What exactly was so startling to them? Was is it just the fact that the Baby buffalo was still alive or is there a deeper meaning to it?
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8 comments:
I am not going to lie. I find no redeeming qualities in Rat Kiley. The name is fitting, and the fact that is a medic is DISTURBING.
I don't really think there is a deeper meaning...I think Tim O'Brien is telling about things people really did because the war or things that happened messed them up so bad. I could be wrong, but I think most of this is true.
I think if anything they were shocked at how messed up and desensitized the war had made them.
Whoa! How strange! Posts about a lack of deeper meaning in reference to one of, what I found to be, one of the more meaningful passages.
I'm not entirely sure how to describe the meaning behind that section. Maybe I'm just crazy and see things in a weird light! But to me it was... well. Essential. Not /new,/ but profound, just as the book said. I don't think "desensitation" has anything to do with it. The beating of the water buffalo touched the soldier's hearts--they were /sensitive/ about it, even if they didn't stop it.
And, I think, they knew the force that drove Rat Kiley to do such a thing.
... and Mrs. Calkin! Are you serious? You didn't like Rat? I think he was probably one of my two favorites, and that chapter is the one that really sets the bait.
Reading the part about the baby water buffalo really got to me. Why would anyone mutilate a poor animal? Rat Kiley might of did this because it was the only way he got to relieve his anger. However, I think that it was better taking the his anger out on a buffalo then a human. It is still sad and was uncalled for but O'Brien may of added this for the effect that the guys hearts are taken out, beaten and bruised, and are basically destoried to where they do not feel gulity anymore and have no soul.
... man. I think that the fact that Rat Kiley beat up a baby water buffalo is was so clearly /makes/ him human. Maybe not humane, but I've never thought that the two had all that clear of a relationship.
... =_= Other than that the words are obviously related--as in, where they came from. Just clearing that up before someone is like "Duh they're related." They obviously came from the same place. Humane came from human. But I think that to focus so completely on being "humane" is to hold up a facade of superiority.
i think Rat is a "f"ing physco! i mean who would do that. but a nut case and i think they were shocked it was still alive thats one strong animal.
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