What is the signficance about the fact that no one except Azar will help O"Brien with his plan for revenge?
What is the signficance of O'Brien describing Azar's holding his rifle "like a teddy bear"?
8 comments:
Sara Olson
said...
The signficance with Azar the only one who wants to do the prank on Jorgensen is O'brien characterizing Azar as childish. Pranks are childish and so is Azar. Azar is very childlike and it shows through his actions. With the pranks, holding the rifle "like a teddy bear", and him reminscing about the times as a child they would play war. These details help make Azar more real.
Is O'Brien's plan for revenge really justified? The other guys don't think so. They just think that it's "sick". And it is. So who does O'Brien look for to accomplish a "sick" goal? The one-and-only puppy-killing Azar. It's obvious that his plan is a little crazy when the only person who will agree to help him is a little off, someone who nobody really likes. The fact that Azar is the only willing helper proves that O'Brien is going too far in his revenge plot.
As we've heard before, Azar is "just a boy", right? He really thinks of war, of scaring people, of killing puppies as a game. He says "out here, at night, I almost feel like a kid again. The Vietnam experience. I mean, wow, I love this shit"(212). The thought of "spooking" a soldier brings a smile to his face, so why wouldn't his rifle be "like a teddy bear to him"?
The others are aware of the fact that O'Brien's want of revenge is, in reality, only for a petty grudge. Jorgenson had even apoligized to him earlier, explaining how he "just couldn't handle it"(226). At that point O'Brien had refused to listen and admitted that Jorgenson's apoligy "almost made [O'Brien] feel guilty. Not quite, though"(227). O'Brien described Azar as someone with "a keener sense of justice"(228). Though really, at the moment, O'Brien's idea of justice is simply who will go along with him and his want of revenge. Although, his revenge may have turned out worse if he hadn't talked to Azar. Sure, Azar can appear to be a borderline pyschopath at times, but by going along with each other O'Brien was able to get rid of his thoughts of revenge. If O'Brien had let it go, his feelings might have festered until he hurt, or killed, Jorgenson. -Jennifer Dolezal
Elisabeth, Azar is the only one who will help O'Brien is because sick himself and sort of mental. Mitchell Sanders tells O'Brien that it is a "sick" joke to mess around with someone like that, so O'Brien knows the only person that will help him is the sickest person of them all. Azar doesn't care about anyone's feelings and he doesn't care if he hurts anyone because he is "just a basic fun lover." I think O'Brien is just showing readers that Azar is just not all there at all. Azar thinks the war is a game and I think he even finds comfort in it. His rifle to him is like a safety net for him just like a teddy bear would be for a little kid. It shows Azar's immaturity and it shows what the war has overall done to him.
Jenny, I think you made a great point at the end of your post when you said, "If O'Brien had let it go, his feelings might have festered until he hurt, or killed, Jorgenson." It could have been very dangerous. I'm glad that O'Brien only pulled a small harmless prank instead of doing something dangerous. Though he was angry his anger was not great enough for him to hurt someone. As time went on this anger could have grown into an evil monster, like a demon on his shoulder.
8 comments:
The signficance with Azar the only one who wants to do the prank on Jorgensen is O'brien characterizing Azar as childish. Pranks are childish and so is Azar. Azar is very childlike and it shows through his actions. With the pranks, holding the rifle "like a teddy bear", and him reminscing about the times as a child they would play war. These details help make Azar more real.
dig deeper, what does this description of Azar show us about his character?
Hayley Windbigler
Is O'Brien's plan for revenge really justified? The other guys don't think so. They just think that it's "sick". And it is. So who does O'Brien look for to accomplish a "sick" goal? The one-and-only puppy-killing Azar. It's obvious that his plan is a little crazy when the only person who will agree to help him is a little off, someone who nobody really likes. The fact that Azar is the only willing helper proves that O'Brien is going too far in his revenge plot.
As we've heard before, Azar is "just a boy", right? He really thinks of war, of scaring people, of killing puppies as a game. He says "out here, at night, I almost feel like a kid again. The Vietnam experience. I mean, wow, I love this shit"(212). The thought of "spooking" a soldier brings a smile to his face, so why wouldn't his rifle be "like a teddy bear to him"?
Excellent quotes to support characterization!!!
The others are aware of the fact that O'Brien's want of revenge is, in reality, only for a petty grudge. Jorgenson had even apoligized to him earlier, explaining how he "just couldn't handle it"(226). At that point O'Brien had refused to listen and admitted that Jorgenson's apoligy "almost made [O'Brien] feel guilty. Not quite, though"(227).
O'Brien described Azar as someone with "a keener sense of justice"(228). Though really, at the moment, O'Brien's idea of justice is simply who will go along with him and his want of revenge. Although, his revenge may have turned out worse if he hadn't talked to Azar. Sure, Azar can appear to be a borderline pyschopath at times, but by going along with each other O'Brien was able to get rid of his thoughts of revenge. If O'Brien had let it go, his feelings might have festered until he hurt, or killed, Jorgenson.
-Jennifer Dolezal
Elisabeth,
Azar is the only one who will help O'Brien is because sick himself and sort of mental. Mitchell Sanders tells O'Brien that it is a "sick" joke to mess around with someone like that, so O'Brien knows the only person that will help him is the sickest person of them all. Azar doesn't care about anyone's feelings and he doesn't care if he hurts anyone because he is "just a basic fun lover."
I think O'Brien is just showing readers that Azar is just not all there at all. Azar thinks the war is a game and I think he even finds comfort in it. His rifle to him is like a safety net for him just like a teddy bear would be for a little kid. It shows Azar's immaturity and it shows what the war has overall done to him.
Elizabeth -- interesting observations - he feels "comforted" , it's like a "safety net"
Jenny,
I think you made a great point at the end of your post when you said, "If O'Brien had let it go, his feelings might have festered until he hurt, or killed, Jorgenson." It could have been very dangerous. I'm glad that O'Brien only pulled a small harmless prank instead of doing something dangerous. Though he was angry his anger was not great enough for him to hurt someone. As time went on this anger could have grown into an evil monster, like a demon on his shoulder.
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