Reading #9, Question 2

[Meagan]

The chapter, Speaking of Courage, is written in the third person about
former soldier Norman Bowker. I noticed that he wouldn't speak
directly to his father, he only imagined a conversation they could
have had about his accomplishments as a soldier. What do you think is
the significance of Bowker avoiding physical conversation with his
father?

[Meagan]

[Logan Torgerson]

That is a great question, Meagan. I believe Norman Bowker avoids
physical conversations with his father about the war because his
father simply does not understand the significance it has had on
Norman's life. Norman imagines telling his father about the story of
him almost winning the Silver Star, and he thinks his father would
just remind him of the seven other medals Norman has won. His father
would say, "Seven. Count 'em. You weren't a coward either." and
Norman would say, "Well, maybe not. But I had the chance and I blew
it." (O'Brien 136). His father doesn't understand that Norman feels
like he failed and how important the Silver Star was to him. Norman
may also feel disconnected from his father since he has been away at
war for so long and feel like his war stories would be of no
importance to his father.

[Jason Guy]

I agree with Logan. Norman Bowker is nervous about physically
confronting his father to tell him about how he almost won the Silver
Star, mainly because he believes that his father would not understand
how close he was to winning the Silver star, and how important it was
to him. In his head, Norman believed his father was happy enough with
the seven other medals Norman had won, even though they were common
medals. Whereas for Norman, having been so close to earning the Silver
Star, none of the other lesser medals mattered to him. Another
minor reason that kept Norman from telling his father about the medals
that day was the baseball game that was on TV. "If his father were
not such a baseball fan, it would have been a good time to
talk" (O'Brien 134).

On Feb 22, 10:24 pm, Logan Torgerson <ltorger...@brvgs.k12.va.us>
wrote:

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[Scott Cast]

That’s a valid point Logan, although I do feel that understanding is
the problem; but I believe it is a deeper more ego related issue.
Norman Bowker explains “that none of [his] decorations [where] for
uncommon valor. The routine, daily stuff-just humping, just enduring-
but that was worth something, wasn’t it?”(O’Brien 135). This
demonstrates the near shame he feels for receiving medals that he
feels in his father’s eyes would mean nothing. Norman has a problem
with the fact he didn’t get awarded the Silver Star, therefore he
feels his father would have a problem with it. That’s why he keeps the
conversations in the confines of his mind, so as not to encounter his
father’s shame in him and to a further extent his own shame in his
self.

On Feb 21, 10:14 pm, Meagan <livluvlaugh...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Austen Stevens]

An excellent argument Scott- I agree that Norman avoids conveying this
story to his father due to the shame he feels toward his lack of
action. Norman's guilt regarding his failure to save Kiowa reflects
heavily upon his imaginary conversations with others, as is shown when
he thinks to himself, "[t]he truth... is that I let the guy
go." (O'Brien, 147). The way in which the story is told suggests that
the failure to achieve the Silver Star for bravery was more important
to Norman, but in truth, his conscience weighed down upon him for his
inability to act. This can also be seen in his later life, back in the
states; his inability to keep a job for very long, his isolation from
other people- these factors exist because he cannot cope with his
failure. Ultimately, he takes his own life because of it. Upon his
death, Norman's mother even quotes, "Norman was a quiet boy... and I
don't suppose he wanted to bother anybody." (O'Brien, 154). I think
that Norman just wished to have something to provide, to contribute-
he does not want to cause anybody else harm by his lack of action or
ability.

[Virginia]

I really like this question, Meagan, because I asked myself the same
thing while I was reading this chapter earlier. Everyone's argued
their positions really well; however, I have to disagree with the
point you've made, Scott. I don't think Bowker's lack of confrontation
had anything to do with preserving his ego or keeping his amateur
level of self-esteem. Through my interpretation of the text, I felt
that it had more to do with the fact that Bowker feels a lack of
acceptance or understanding within his hometown. He continues to point
out this idea that no one cares or remembers the slightest remnants of
the Vietnam War, that "[they] had no memory, therefore no guilt ...
[They] did not know shit about shit, and did not care to
know." (O'Brien 137) Through this lack of regard, I believe that
Bowker finds his heroic medals embarrassing to boast or even speak
about, being that no one in his community would understand or truly
appreciate it like Bowker or his comrades would. That is why he only
holds practical conversations between him and his father (regarding
the topic) in his conscious, as a way of playing out what he wish
could be reality.