Chapter 12: The Man I Killed

How did the narrator react to the fact that he killed another human being? What evidence in the story leads you to this conclusion?

• It can be said that the narrator feels guilty as Tim constantly reacts to the fact that he killed another human being. The evidence in the story that leads to this conclusion would be the fact that Tim repeats similar phrases of the man he killed in his head even after Kiowa tries to tell him to stop as he states, “His one eye was shut, his other eye was a star-shaped hole” (O’Brien 118). This is also stated as, “His one eye was shut and the other was a star-shape hole. Kiowa glanced at the body. ‘All right, let me ask a question… You want to trade places with him? Turn it all upside down- you want that? I mean, be honest’” (O’Brien 120). Tim also tries to place himself in the dead man’s position. All in all, Tim stares at the man more and more, the supposed details of the man’s life become more significant.

This story describes fairly intimate aspects of the dead man’s life. Where do these details come from? How can Tim O’Brien know them? What is going on here?

• These details come from Tim’s mind; he’s creating the life the man seemed to have as he doesn’t truly know what happened to him. This allows Tim to feel more guilt as he realizes the potential the man could’ve had. For instance, Tim mentions various questions regarding the man and his decisions as stated, “If he could not fight little boys, he thought, how could he ever become a soldier and fight the Americans with their airplanes and helicopters and bombs? It did not seem possible” (O’Brien 121). This relates to Tim’s life before the war, as he thought he wasn’t suit for the war nor did he want to fight for the war as he didn’t believe in it; this could compare to the man’s life before the war as well. 

Reflection:

The structure of this story definitely adds to how Tim must’ve been feeling after he killed the man. Throughout the chapter, Tim doesn’t talk or respond to Kiowa as Kiowa asks if he’s fine or if he would want to be in the position of the man he killed. This goes to show that guilt overpowers any logical reasoning, especially in relation to the emotions one might be feeling after killing someone he or she didn’t “intend” to kill. It doesn’t help to Tim’s situation that he relates to the man he killed. For instance, Tim sees himself in the man as he assumed they’re were raised to be brave and carry the obligation of fighting in the war even if they didn’t want to be a part of the war in the first place. Although the man is dead, Tim’s characterization of him makes it seem as if he’s not completely dead.