1 / 9

Vietnam War Tragedy: A Complex Conflict

Explore the intricacies of the Vietnam War through the lens of conflicting viewpoints, post-war trauma, and the human toll of battle. Dive into the themes of justification, loss, isolation, and racism in this poignant narrative.

micahross
Download Presentation

Vietnam War Tragedy: A Complex Conflict

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Things They Carried Vietnam Tim O’Brien

  2. Vietnam War • 1941: Ho Chi Minh returns to Vietnam after exile • 1945: France attempts to regain control of Saigon • 1946-1954: Ho Chi Minh negotiates with France over independence

  3. Vietnam War • Divided Nation: • North – Communist who advocated independence – wanted to unify country • South – worked with France • 1965: America sends troops to help South defeat North

  4. Vietnam War • 58,000 Americans dead • ~150 Billion dollars – cost of America • Wanted to keep communism from spreading – domino theory • Guerrilla Warfare • Surprise attacks, ambushes, bombings, no clear enemy, terrorist in nature

  5. Vietnam Views • Proponents: • Keep communism from spreading • Protection from Soviet Power • Treaty obligation – Geneva – 1954 • Maintain colonial power over French Indonesia • Use as a buffer state in Asia • No point of rescuing them from Japan if handed over to communism

  6. Vietnam Views • Opposition: • Not obligated under Geneva treaty to help • Civil War – no right to intervene • Vietnam chose not to honor Geneva treaty • No Chinese threat – long history of China and Vietnam animosity • South wanted unification • No democracy in Vietnam • Bad military tactics – napalm, ambushes, etc.

  7. Post Vietnam • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: • Frightening thoughts and memories • Lack of emotional attachments to others • Sleep disorders • Easily startled • Nightmares/flashbacks • Psychiatric problems • Lack of interest in life • ~ 30% of Vietnam Veterans

  8. Vocabulary • Dynamic character – changes in story • Static character – does not change • First Person Narration – narrated by O’Brien; limited perspective • Flashback/Flash-forward: going back in time or going into present. • Indirect Characterization: when author provides details in which the reader makes assumptions about a character’s personality.

  9. Themes • The justification of killing • Loss of a friend • Isolation • Corruption of war • Inability to adjust back to normal life • Individual consequences of war • Racism as a coping mechanism

More Related