Chapter 15: Speaking of Courage

What narrative point of view is used in “Speaking of Courage”? What problems does Norman confront when he returns home? What seems to prevent him from dealing with them successfully?

• The point of view used in “Speaking of Courage” would be that of third person. The problems Norman confront when he returns home would be that of not belonging to his quiet hometown along with feeling like he should tell someone of his accomplishments, preferably his father and a girl he used to “be” with named Sally Gustafon. However, he doesn’t deal with them successfully because he can’t explain the events that happened during the war to those who’ve never been in the war.

Why is this story called “Speaking of Courage”? Assume the title does NOT hold any irony. In what sense does this story speak of courage?

• Norman doesn't want to talk about the war itself, yet rather how he would almost win the Silver Star award. According to Google, this award upholds courage as it is the “United States Armed Forces third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat.” Norman wants to speak the courage he was supposed to have if he would’ve saved his friend, Kiowa.

Like other male characters in this novel, Norman Bowker develops an active fantasy life. Why do these men develop these fantasy roles? What do they get from telling these fantasy stories to themselves? What does this tell you about O’Brien’s understanding of the way fiction relates to real life?

• These men develop these fantasy roles in order to avoid the harsh realities of the world and to live in a “delusional" happiness and serenity instead. The war most definitely changed the lifestyles and perspectives the soldiers had before the war. O’Brien makes it so that the fiction he’s writing replicates events that seem to happen in real life. 

Why is Norman unable to relate to anyone at home? More importantly, why doesn’t he even try?

• Norman unable to relate to anyone at home as they didn't go through the same tragedies he did in the war. In addition, he wants to tell his “loved ones" about the medals and awards he won, specifically the Silver Star award, instead of telling any other person. For instance, Norman was about to tell the person on the intercom about how Kiowa died and how he was involved, yet he didn’t as he couldn’t get the right words out. 

Reflection:

Although this chapter seemed to go in a slow paced manner, it’s still a great example of what can happen to a person after the war. Norman Bowker is an interesting case as he thought about how he should’ve earned the Silver Star award if he did save Kiowa. This makes the reader think if he wanted to save Kiowa primarily for this award or because he was his friend; it can be said that he did feel remorse and sympathy toward Kiowa and the disgusting field situation. The ending was thought-provoking as it was revealed that Norman committed suicide; there can be a variety of instances on why he did what he did such as the life he had after the war or the people in his life seeming uninterested in him and the war. However, the most mind-boggling part of the chapter would be the ending where Tim states, “Norman is back in the story, where he belongs, and I don't think he would mind that his real name appears… Kiowa, after all, had been a close friend, and for years I've avoided thinking about his death and my own complicity in it… I want to make it clear that Norman Bowker was in no way responsible for what happened to Kiowa. Norman did not experience a failure of nerve that night. He did not freeze up or lose the Silver Star for valor. That part of the story is my own” (O’Brien #). All of this makes the reader think what’s real and what’s not.