Comparing the Ways Michael Herr in Dispatches and Pat Barker in Regeneration Show the Effects of War

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Comparing the Ways Michael Herr in Dispatches and Pat Barker in Regeneration Show the Effects of War

When comparing Michael Herr's 'Dispatches' and 'Regeneration' by Pat

Barker the differences in format, style and setting are clear from the

outset. However both books explore the horrifying effect of war on

those directly and indirectly involved. The two authors attempt to

take the reader away from objective, statistical impressions of war

and closer to the real experiences of those affected. The various

mental and physical effects of war are explored in the books but the

underlining effect that is highlighted is the fact that the men

involved will forever be separate from the rest of society because

they have been irrevocably altered by experiences that can only be

understood by those who were there.

As an autobiography centered around Herr's experience of Vietnam

'Dispatches' provides a different reading experience to Barker's

novel, which is loosely based on the real life meeting between

Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen and Dr. W.H.R Rivers at Craiglockhart

War Hospital during The First World War. Due to the different

approaches the structure of the books is different and that affects

how the effect of war is shown. 'Dispatches' is a tapestry of

experience with no real linear structure except for the Khe Sanh

section where a siege develops through the section. Herr moves from

his own thoughts and experiences to stories that have been passed on

from soldiers or other correspondents. For instance, Herr's opinion of

a detached soldier is immediately followed by the soldier's own third

person story. This means that a great range of e...

... middle of paper ...

...ndom structure. The

authors use the same techniques to convey the effect of war but tailor

those techniques to suit the specific style and structure of their

books, which leads to the decisive difference in the reading

experience. I feel that 'Regeneration' is flawed in its presentation

of the effect of war because, although interesting, concentrating

solely on the psychological consequences is too restrictive.

Importantly, 'Dispatches' presents the physical, emotional and

psychological effect of living and fighting in Vietnam from a highly

personal perspective. As an individual reader I found this compelling

and believe Herr's overwhelming account brings the reader closer to

understanding the true effect of war.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

'Dispatches': Michael Herr.

'Regeneration': Pat Barker.

www.amazon.com.

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