The Vietnam War Thesis: Most Americans Are Familiar With ✓ Solved

The Vietnam War THESIS: Most Americans are familiar with the

The Vietnam War had various effects on the United States; among them was the soldiers' death and hurting the American economy. The poem looks at just the effects of the war on a young black soldier struggling to cope with life after the Vietnam War.

The soldiers who survived this war had a callous time. The emotional and mental turmoil of the survivors is illustrated by the topic sentence: “I’m stone. I’m flesh.” This illustrates a mix of feelings (Komunyakaa, & said I wouldn't, 1996). The first part shows a strong person, and the second one, a vulnerable person who can easily be carried by feelings of sadness.

The experiences of how the war looked like and what the soldiers faced are supported by: booby traps killed the soldiers. The topic sentence, “I touch the name Andrew Johnson; I see the booby traps white flash,” illustrates his blurred memory, remembering how death occurred like a flash.

Furthermore, self-reflection regarding his wearisome experiences during this period showcases the poet's expression of guilt, shame, and survivor sickness, illustrating survivor trauma. The topic sentence states: The speaker searches his name on the rock “like smoke.”

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The Vietnam War remains one of the most significant conflicts in U.S. history, not only because of its political ramifications but also due to the profound impact it had on the soldiers who fought in it. The poem “Facing It” by Yusef Komunyakaa serves as a poignant reflection on the psychological scars left by the war on those who survived. This analysis explores the intricate layers of emotion, memory, and trauma depicted in the poem, emphasizing how it mirrors the broader experiences of Vietnam veterans.

Komunyakaa’s personal connection as a veteran allows him to portray his experiences authentically. The poem begins with the speaker's confrontation with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a site that evokes mixed emotions. The opening lines, “I’m stone. I’m flesh,” reveal a deep dichotomy within the speaker’s identity. Here, stone symbolizes the strong facade he presents to the world, while flesh represents his vulnerability and the pervasive pain he carries as a survivor. This duality reflects the struggles faced by many veterans who grapple with their own perceptions of strength and fragility (Komunyakaa, 1996).

In the first body paragraph, the focus shifts to the sheer emotional turmoil experienced by veterans. The speaker’s emotional state underscores the complexities of survival. The phrase “I’m stone” conveys a sense of resilience, yet it simultaneously highlights the isolation felt by those who return from war. The trauma experienced does not evaporate with the cessation of hostilities; rather, it lingers, embedding itself in the soldier’s psyche. This is compounded by the societal disconnect often felt upon returning home. Such experiences are indicative of broader psychological phenomena like PTSD, which afflict many veterans long after the war has ended (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

The second body paragraph delves into the specific horrors encountered during the war, particularly regarding the dangers posed by booby traps. The line “I touch the name Andrew Johnson; I see the booby traps white flash” exemplifies the visceral memories that haunt the speaker. The mention of a name signifies personal loss and remembrance, while the “white flash” evokes the suddenness of death experienced in battle. These sensory experiences create an emotional depth that resonates with readers, allowing them to cautiously approach the memories that shape veteran identity (Berger, 2016).

Moving to the third body paragraph, the notion of self-reflection becomes predominant. Komunyakaa illustrates the internal conflict faced by veterans grappling with guilt and survivor’s remorse—the struggle of having survived while many did not. The act of searching for one’s name among the memorial stones symbolizes a quest for belonging and acknowledgment. The speaker's connection to these gravestones reveals a desire to reconcile their existence with that of fallen comrades. The phrase “like smoke” suggests an elusive and transient nature of memory, evoking feelings of loss and ambiguity (Davis, 2019).

In conclusion, “Facing It” serves as a powerful commentary on the emotional aftermath of the Vietnam War, emphasizing the haunting effects of memory, trauma, and guilt experienced by veterans. By employing rich imagery and metaphor, Komunyakaa invites readers to confront the poignant realities of war, making the personal both relatable and universally significant. The poem encapsulates the broader narrative of how a generation of soldiers navigated their return to civilian life, encapsulating the complexities of identity, memory, and healing.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Berger, A. (2016). The Vietnam War: A historical dictionary. New York: Scarecrow Press.
• Davis, Anna. (2019). The psychological effects of war on veterans. Journal of Trauma Studies, 24(2), 152-168.
• Komunyakaa, Y., & said I wouldn't, I. (1996). Facing it. Streetfare Journal. Retrieved from: Analysis of Poem "Facing It" by Yusef Komunyakaa.
• McMahon, K. (2017). The legacy of the Vietnam War on American culture. American Studies Journal, 61(1), 65-80.
• O’Brien, T. (1990). The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
• Schell, T. L., & Marshall, G. N. (2008). Assessing the social effects of war. War & Social Change, 15(3), 221-234.
• Shay, J. (1994). Achilles in Vietnam: Combat trauma and the undoing of character. New York: Scribner.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). Statistical analyses of PTSD. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Winter, J. (2014). Sites of memory, sites of mourning: The Great War in European cultural history. Cambridge University Press.