Comparing 'The Sniper And The Short Story Cranes'

What Do They Represent?

The short story “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty and the short story “Cranes” by Hwang Sunwon are both saying that, making the correct decisions can be the hardest thing to do in some situations.

“The Sniper” is placed in late June. A civil war is happening. One day at dawn, a man-the Sniper-was on the roof of a house taking watch. what he didn’t know is that another man was on the opposite side of the street, also on the roof. the Sniper’s hideout has been compromised by an old women.

The enemy started firing the Sniper fried also. the enemy drove off with an inactive body hanging out of the the sun roof. The man on the other side of the street, also on the roof, started firing at the Sniper.The Sniper’s right forearm was hit and injured badly.

So then he thought of a ruse.

He placed his cap on the end of his rifle-he could no longer use a two handed gun- the man fired at the cap thinking is was the Sniper. He stood in joy. The Sniper fired at the man, who thought he had killed him. The Sniper fired at the other man with one single shot… the man fell to the hard cold cement.

The Sniper was proud of what he done. Once he accomplished his mission, he wondered who he had assassinated. He ran to the inactive body laying there, lifeless. He turned the body over and… he was looking at his own brother’s face.

This story, “Cranes” takes place in Korea during the Korean war in a small village along the thirty-eighth parallel. Songsam and Tokchae are the main characters. They are childhood friends. Once the war started, they had to choose sides, the North and the South. Songsam lived on a farm, but he chose the south side where he would be safer, leaving his family behind, knowing they couldn't run.

Tokchae also lived on a farm with his family. He knew they couldn't run to the south side. They stayed in the North. Tokchae’s father is a widower and he is very ill. Tokchae could not afford to just get up and

move.
Songsam has great anger towards Tokchae. But he does not know that the enemy made him the vice-chairman of the Farmers Communist League because he was poor and a hard worker. Songsam sees Tokchae tied up and will not look at him. They start having a conversation about their lives. Songsam made the courageous decision to let Tokchae free.
Just like how they let the crane free when they were younger. Sometimes, correct choice is not always the right choice.