Compare and contrast the actions of O'Brien in this chapter with Curt Lemon in "The Dentist." What motivates both of these characters to respond this way?
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
More than anything, Lemon and O'Brien respond in such extreme manners in order to reclaim pride. Lemon's fear of the dentist makes him appear weak, an image he cannot allow of himself. O'Brien must now walk around with stained britches in a civilienesque job while the rest of his crew are still in the field. He was cast out because Jorgenson couldn't his job. O'Brien's worst moment is likely When Sanders explains “People change. Situations change. I hate to say this, man, but you're out of touch. Jorgenson- he's with us now. And I'm not?.... No, he said. I guess you're not” (197-198)
In "The Dentist", Curt fainted when he saw the dentist and then went back to him to have a tooth pulled that night. In "Ghost Soldiers", O'Brien gets back at Bobby Jorgenson for not giving him the proper treatments when he got shot in the buttox. I think that embarassment is what motivated both characters. Lemon was embarassed that he had fainted. O'Brien was embarassed for several different reasons. One being that he couldn't do much because he had an infected bum that almost killed him. Also, now he wasn't part of the group anymore. Now that he wasn't out fighting, there was a certain detatchment and it was all Jorgenson's fault. O'Brien's actions were different that Lemon's in that he did it for payback and Lemon did it to protect his dignity. But then again, I guess O'Brien spooked Jorgenson to protect his dignity too.
Haley White Their response to the embarrassment is what's most important. Lemon cannot even show his face until he has proven to himself that he can face the dentist. And O'Brien must cause Jorgenson discomfort as well. Both men feel they must show how “tough” they are by inflicting pain, either on themselves, or the seed of that embarrassment
You guys are very insightful of how O'Brien and Lemon dealt with the embarrassment they had. Reading these blogs help me understand different possibilities to the meanings on their actions. This is just like when we have discussion when everyone comes together and puts in their own view and it gives me a different way to view something.
Haley, You did a nice job at comparing the two characters. Tim's embarrassment mirrors Lemon's when both feel the ridicule of the others. I also liked how you added the last part, "they must show how "tough" they are by inlicting pain, either on themselves, or the seed of that embarrassment". Although both men were embarrassed, it was interesting how they channeled that embarrassment differently.
To Heather, I really like how you talked about both embarassment as well as the seeking of revenge. When reading this thought I only connected with the revenge seeking, I didn't think about the embarassment that O'Brien had to deal with after he was shot. The connection with the embarassments about being a baby when it came to visiting the dentist and when O'Brien had an oozing and infected butt was great and well connected!
I agree with your comparison. Both Lemon and O'Brien's pride is hurt and they try to pull through their embarrassment by either inflicting pain and/or embarrassment on the one responsible for this.
Very Good. I didn't even think of the similiarities of their actions. Curt Lemon and Tim O'Brien both react out of embarrisment and attempting to regain their dignity.
10 comments:
More than anything, Lemon and O'Brien respond in such extreme manners in order to reclaim pride. Lemon's fear of the dentist makes him appear weak, an image he cannot allow of himself. O'Brien must now walk around with stained britches in a civilienesque job while the rest of his crew are still in the field. He was cast out because Jorgenson couldn't his job. O'Brien's worst moment is likely When Sanders explains “People change. Situations change. I hate to say this, man, but you're out of touch. Jorgenson- he's with us now.
And I'm not?....
No, he said. I guess you're not” (197-198)
Heather Rogers
In "The Dentist", Curt fainted when he saw the dentist and then went back to him to have a tooth pulled that night. In "Ghost Soldiers", O'Brien gets back at Bobby Jorgenson for not giving him the proper treatments when he got shot in the buttox. I think that embarassment is what motivated both characters. Lemon was embarassed that he had fainted. O'Brien was embarassed for several different reasons. One being that he couldn't do much because he had an infected bum that almost killed him. Also, now he wasn't part of the group anymore. Now that he wasn't out fighting, there was a certain detatchment and it was all Jorgenson's fault. O'Brien's actions were different that Lemon's in that he did it for payback and Lemon did it to protect his dignity. But then again, I guess O'Brien spooked Jorgenson to protect his dignity too.
Yes, what do they both do in order to reclaim that pride? How do they handle that embarrassment? Do they handle it at all?
^ 1st one was Haley White^^
Haley White
Their response to the embarrassment is what's most important. Lemon cannot even show his face until he has proven to himself that he can face the dentist. And O'Brien must cause Jorgenson discomfort as well. Both men feel they must show how “tough” they are by inflicting pain, either on themselves, or the seed of that embarrassment
Kierstynn to Haley and Heather
You guys are very insightful of how O'Brien and Lemon dealt with the embarrassment they had. Reading these blogs help me understand different possibilities to the meanings on their actions. This is just like when we have discussion when everyone comes together and puts in their own view and it gives me a different way to view something.
Haley,
You did a nice job at comparing the two characters. Tim's embarrassment mirrors Lemon's when both feel the ridicule of the others. I also liked how you added the last part, "they must show how "tough" they are by inlicting pain, either on themselves, or the seed of that embarrassment". Although both men were embarrassed, it was interesting how they channeled that embarrassment differently.
-Amy
Brittany
To Heather,
I really like how you talked about both embarassment as well as the seeking of revenge. When reading this thought I only connected with the revenge seeking, I didn't think about the embarassment that O'Brien had to deal with after he was shot. The connection with the embarassments about being a baby when it came to visiting the dentist and when O'Brien had an oozing and infected butt was great and well connected!
Katelyn Peters to Heather:
I agree with your comparison. Both Lemon and O'Brien's pride is hurt and they try to pull through their embarrassment by either inflicting pain and/or embarrassment on the one responsible for this.
To Heather,
Very Good. I didn't even think of the similiarities of their actions. Curt Lemon and Tim O'Brien both react out of embarrisment and attempting to regain their dignity.
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