In The Field
Plot:
*The soldiers search for the body of Kiowa in the "shit field."
*Jimmy Cross blames himself, wonders where he went wrong and writes a letter in his head to Kiowa's father.
*A young soldier, presumably Tim though un-named, searches for the picture of his ex-girlfriend.
*Kiowa is found and proves very difficult to dig out on the field.
Characters:
Jimmy Cross: - not a good leader -> he just followed orders and camped in the field when he could have moved the company to higher, and safer, ground.
- cannot stick to his resolutions -> at the beginning of the chapter he is motivated by Kiowa's death to start being a better Lieutenant but by the end of the chapter he is day-dreaming again.
- holds the blame of Kiowa's death and excepts it "My own fault..." (168)
- doesn't want the responsibility given to him.
Ruben Hilari, junto a Jimmy Wales
Jimmy Bergamelli
Jimmy Dean and Large Dogs"He had never wanted it." (167)
- lacks motivation in his duties until something bad happens.
Themes:
The cost of war: - Kiowa was killed.
- Tim lost his girlfriend (and her photo.)
The nature of war: - made the men happy that they were alive and that some one else was dead instead of them.
Burdens: - the burden of blame -> Jimmy and Tim blame themselves for Kiowa's death. -> Mitchell Sander's blames Jimmy. -> Norman Bowker blamed no-one.
- the burden of responsibility -> Jimmy carries this although he doesn't want to.
- the burden of guilt -> Azar felt guilty when he saw Kiowa's body -> Jimmy felt guilty for all of the events that led to Kiowa's death. -> Tim felt guilty for flashing his torch; he likened it to murder.
Coping: - Azar copes with Kiowa's death by making jokes (black humour.) Eg: "Wasted...