It has not only been a trend, but almost a necessity, for novelists who depict wars to depict humanity. Wars are largely, if not totally, alienating; it alienates humans from who they are—or at least whom they think they are—to fighting machines programmed exclusively for mass destruction and ruthless killing. Romantic love and strong sentiment seem to be incompatible with the nature of wars and are rarely found in wars as well. However, in Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier shows us the reshaping of humanity and personality of the male protagonist Inman during the war; he conveys an idea of rebirth in the war—a process of gradually discovering and finally adopting a new, more introspective self-identity; and this journey to rebirth is led by love, courage, and the desire for freedom.
Inman is a wounded soldier recovering in a Confederate military hospital. He may not be much different from millions of soldiers in millions of wars, until he starts to doubt the meaning of the war and decides to get out of it. This is actually the start of his journey to rebirth: by retrieving individual thinking, he differs himself from the mass killing machines in the battle and puts the plan of getting back home into practice; he differs himself from other soldiers who may also be skeptical with the war but never have the courage to start the journey towards home.
Another very important reason for Inman to desert the army is to reunite with Ada, the one he loves, but has to be apart from due to the war. On his way back home, the desire to see his lover again is always supporting him: “Inman was roused from sleep by the song of morning birds. The vision of Ada would not loose its grip on his mind, nor did he wish it to…. Inman was sorry not to ...
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...e bloody world and leads him back to humanity.
In conclusion, Cold Mountain’s depiction of rebirth in the war is a romanticization of the brutal nature of wars. By showing us how the male protagonist Inman frees himself from the imposed warlike ideology and finally retrieve his real human nature, Frazier reveals that wars, although undesired and unjustifiable, are a potential field for people to reshape their perspective to life and take a journey to reflect into their true self. This journey is consisted of the courage to pursue freedom and the support of love in one’s heart—the essence of rebirth in the war.
Works Cited
Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. New York: Grove, 1997. Print.
Gilreath, Heather Rhea. “Coming Home, Staying Put, and Learning to Fiddle: Heroism and Place in Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain.” 2004. PDF file.
These acts and examples show that Inman is developing back to his former self from before the war where life had meaning. Inman is on a spiritual journey rather than a mere physical journey back home. Inman’s journey is a deep part of the novel, and it is a key ingredient to the storyline. All of the examples in this paper point to the underlying conclusion that Inman is ultimately trying to redeem himself and fill in the empty beliefs that the war erased from his body.
Where Men Win Glory is an ironic euphemism for war. The title is ironic because there is nothing glorious about war or the way it ended Pat Tillman’s beautiful life. Jon Krakauer orchestrates this masterpiece with his diligently, articulated descriptions and with a timeline sewn together from the threads of two worlds. The author’s style can best be characterized by his challenging, precise diction and his ability to fluently intervene pertinent quotes and facts that further persuade the reader toward his cause. Throughout the book, the author’s tone harnesses resentment towards the militant hierarchy; for through its ingenuousness, deceit, and manipulation, the military uses Pat’s death as propaganda to bolster the war’s support. Furthermore, the military covers up the fact that Tillman was a victim of fratricide, and it deceives the nation into believing Tillman’s end was a valiant fight against insurgents. When the truth is exposed and pursued by Dannie - Pat’s mother - the army destroys evidence and pleads guilty to ignorance as a rebuttal. This book is molded by three prodigious aspects that help to illustrate Pat’s life story. The carelessness of war, importance of family, and enhancement through change were all important ingredients that created a virtuous life. Each theme, in addition, challenges me personally to reassess the facts I have been fed and the reality that I have been presented. By doing so, I can achieve a sound base of knowledge and an intellectual prowess capable of challenging all facts presented.
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