BLOG POST *6

In "On The Rainy River" O'Brien begins the story by saying " I have never told this story to anyone." The reason being because he was embarrassed, society would think of him a a coward for running from the war. He felt shame for running away from the draft, and coming sloe to crossing over into Canada. There had to be part of a soldier inside of him, because he didn't, he was giving the chance, and did not hide. He tells us that he could not stand the sight of blood, which is ironic being that he works in a slaughter house. And he tells us that he knows nothing about weapons and fighting, he was head of his class and student body president, but he couldn't tell a rifle from a slingshot. He was planning to continue his education even further, and he was angry that he had been drafted to fight in a war in which he hated.

In "The Ghost Soldiers" O'Brien was no longer a coward, he had become a soldier and was no longer afraid of blood, and knew more weapons than ever. He had hardened and become jealous that he was no longer in the war with his fellow soldiers. He became jealous enough to harass the medic who had "mistreated" him. But at the end he realized that the reason the medic had mistreated him was for the same reason he had run from the war in the first place. He was scared, and blinded by fear. He didn't know what to do so in a sense he ran from his duties. By this time it was too late for O'Brien to stop the prank so he angered the medic and Azar. Azar kicked him in the head and the medic gave him proper treatment this time.

The main difference between these two chapters is that "On The Rainy River" he was scared and confused the war was all new to him and he had no interest in being a part of it and most defiantly not by force. but in "The Ghost Soldiers" he was bitter, angry and jealous that his friends go to continue fighting and he was not allowed. He began to take his anger out on someone who had mistreated him before and then quickly realized that that person was scared just like he was and had now become accustomed to war.