"Run, I'd think. Then I'd think, impossible" (O'Brien 42)
In this quote he believes that he the war is stupid and that he should flee to Canada, but then he also has a sense of morality and patriotism. He is torn between two decisions. and in life we have decisions that are life changing all the time. He wants to do the right thing but then again he wants whats best for him.
I don't think he was talking about war in general. I think he meant more specifically like when he met with trouble. He wants to turn around and run away from the trouble, but he cannot because he has men to lead, and his decisions could end their lives. He knows what is best for him which is he and his men returning safely, and also his company completing the mission the were sent to complete. He has many different emotion, but overall, he knows what must be done.
ReplyDelete-Brice Lucas
I think that O'Brien was even undecided about what exactly the "right" thing was. To him, both fleeing to Canada and serving in the war were "right" things to do, for separate reasons. Ultimately, he decided on joining the army, but, in my opinion it was more out of fear of being mocked for running away, than out of any sense of duty.
ReplyDelete-Ethan Cantrell