An Analysis Of Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy? 'By Tim O' Brien

In the story “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?”, author Tim O’Brien uses vivid imagery, unique characterization, and situational irony to convey the themes in his tale. Since the narrator has a third-person omniscient perspective, they can describe the atmosphere of a scene and look into each character’s psyche, helping them utilize these literary techniques. In the beginning of the story, the narrator uses imagery to set a gloomy and darkened setting, which aids the reader to visualize the backdrop in great detail and understand the emotions of Paul Berlin. This style is also used later when he was “Wading through the paddy, his boots [making] sleepy, sloshing sounds, like a lullaby” (O’Brien 830). By embedding the expressive sensory words,

the author makes the reader hear those sounds and relate with what the main character experiences. In the story, O’Brien also uses characterization and irony to develop and help the reader understand Paul. These devices are used when “[Paul was] Giggling and remembering, [as] he covered his mouth. His eyes stung, remembering how it was when Billy Boy died of fright”(O’Brien 834). By referencing Billy while Paul was laughing, O’Brien creates situational irony, because usually when the death of a soldier would be mourned, Paul was giggling at the memory of Billy. This irony also plays into how the author characterizes the main character, as the reader can identify he is nervous and unstable because of his perplexing actions. In using these tools, author Tim O’Brien excellently develops Private First Class Paul Berlin in his gripping story.