Insanity In In The Dark Woods

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Madness depicted in Thanh differs in comparison to Charles, and western ways of coping with trauma. This is because Western society emphasizes that the patient ought to express how they feel, or what they are thinking to enable themselves to be cathartic and seek further aid. This is demonstrated when Charles speaks to his psychiatrist, yet those sessions failed. He then went on to speaking to his veteran peers to find communal guidance, and understanding for a mental state no one else could understand. As it is depicted in the novel, the effects of PTSD can only be fully understood from people who endured similar events. This is demonstrated when Charles’ colleague Jimmy, recommended him to read “In The Dark Woods”, because It the madness he would understand (78). …show more content…

However, in Thanhs story, there is a significant tension between Thanh (the presumed rational) and his old companion Hien (the depicted irrational). Thanh’s method of survival is through obedience, as he states “to behave is to survive”. However, Hien acted disobediently, and rebelled when the South Vietnamese flag was used a broom. Additionally, Hien attempted to consume his own hand, and denies any food Thanh manages to come across. Lastly the physical symptoms of bodily deterioration as “His teeth were falling out, his hair was thing, his knees were bigger than his hips” (114). Significantly, Hien is depicted as insane, however this is questionable, because Thanh questions whether he, or Hien is insane (113). The argument for Hiens rationality is that he chose to act disobedient, which enabled him to reclaim his agency. However, he knew he was going to perform his rebellious action “in a moment a of clarity” (114). Additionally, when he chose to react against the northern communist Vietnamese, it was towards someone who was using the south Vietnamese flag as a

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