How does Rat Kiley's telling of the story add to the tension?
What does the story say about the Vietnam experience?
What was your reaction to this story?
O'Brien states: "What happened to her...was what happened to all of them. You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it's never the same" (114). What is your response to this quote? How does it apply to Vietnam? Can you relate this idea to life as well? How so?
The transformation of Mary Anne Bell began after she learned what Vietnam was really like. Death, danger, and conflict lurked at every corner, and she had to be able to protect herself and not just rely on Fossie to protect her. She came to the realization that over in Vietnam, no one was safe. This story proves that the Vietnam experience hardens you and opens your eyes to what combat is really like and what soldiers really suffer through when they serve. Seeing innocent children bombed to bits by grenades or families running away as both sides open fire exposes the real horrors of the world and how things are so much different than you wish they were. My reaction to the story was shock. I couldn't even imagine how Mary Anne was so curious about everything and wanted to explore routes and towns that could be filled with enemies just waiting.
ReplyDeleteMy response to the quote on pg. 114 is that it opens my eyes to what truly happens in wars. It gives me a new sense of respect for everyone in the world who has serves after knowing of all the ugliness and torture they have to undergo, some for a cause they didn't even support in the first place. That loops into the Vietnam War. Soldiers and families had to witness the massacre of their friends and relatives over a highly controversial reason, which really puts one's guard up and makes them comprehend the worst that can happen. This can be related to life if someone goes through something traumatic, like the death of a loved one. It closes you up and almost prepares you for other anguish that can occur. The worst thing that could happen to you happened, so naturally you would expect other bad things to happen to you.
Mary Anne Bell transforms by going on the night raids, and she discovers how different the world is from what she believed. Mary found out the hidden side of the war while she was visiting Fossie; she learned that there was more to the war than what she had seen at the base. Mary had been sheltered while visiting the base and once she found out what else was out there she became intrigued and wanted to see more of it. While Rat Kiley was telling this story he would pause to add to the effect and because he wasn't sure of how the story ended. Rat Kiley also could still have been shocked at how such a pretty, smart, and helpful girl could have changed so drastically while being at the base. This story shows how much people were changed as they spent time in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this story is a great representation of how people change when they are placed in new situations that are more demanding physically and mentally than any they may have experienced before. The quote on pg. 114 is representing how everyone back home views those who went to Vietnam. But it's not just wars that change people school, work, situations, and friends can also cause people to change. I have personally been changed by my friends. I have changed by learning to respond better to situations that I've been in and I think that changing has helped me give better advice to my friends and those around me.
Mary Anne Belle is changed after a while of being in the camp with the men. She experiences war first hand and after treating men's injuries she feels like a whole new person. She feels excitment and the world isn't the same cushy thing that she is used to. I think that it doesn't matter if it's a woman or a man. We all handle things differently. Some men and women couldn't handle the dirt and Gore of the war. Some would want more like Mary Anne. I think this book shows how the was changes everybody. It doesn't matter their gender. Your perspective changes, your awareness to everything changes.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mary Anne Bell began to change mentally after she helped treat the injured. Surprisingly, she adapted quickly to the “way-of-the-land” and she became adjusted to her new found life in Vietnam. Rat Kiley added a sense of mystery and suspense to Mary Bell’s daily and nightly activities. Everyone in the camp loved her, but she slowly distanced herself.
DeleteIn my opinion, the Vietnam experience literally grows on each of the soldiers. The country slowly drags everyone down mentally and physically. Mary Bell transformed from an “innocent girl” to a “rugged soldier” with a necklace of tongues. I found this chapter to be one of the more interesting ones in the novel. O’Brien mentions that the scouts and soldiers believe they saw her, but I would like to know how she lived and survived by herself.
The quote symbolizes Vietnam can knock the best of people down. The jungles and wetlands consumed the weak and broke the strong.
There were many factors that played into the transformation of Mary Anne Bell when she came over to Vietnam, the largest of which was most likely the environment that surrounded her on a daily basis. From the never ending forest that stretched out beyond the eye's reach right down to the bunches of naked men that were around her all day everyday, I can only imagine what that would do to a woman's head after so long. Along with what she saw around her, what she heard probably had a large affect on her transformation. The various stories that were told by all of the men painted images in her mind that would definitely have aided in such a change.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley's story telling had a certain element to it that gave every story he told a little extra something, whether it be suspense, humor, seriousness, or down-right stupidity. Along with every other military man with a war story, he tended to embellish it and/or stretch the truth. Often times this was what added those extra ingredients that the story needed in order to make it a one worth listening to. He did this with the story about Mary Anne Bell, adding his own touches of suspense every time he paused or added his own commentary.
The story of Mary Anne Bell speaks volumes, particularly about the Vietnam experience. I have absolutely no idea what was going through O'Brien's mind while he was writing this novel, but I get the feeling that he found a way to express his deepest feelings about the war through war stories. This spurred an emotional reaction from me, as well as any other reader I have spoken to. Each page of this novel is dripping with O'Brien's strongest emotions and memories which come together to formulate the beautiful masterpiece that this novel is.
Mary Anne Bell changes because she was curious about all her new surroundings. Mary could not help but wonder about all the new things around her, but as she slowly learns about her surroundings her personality begins to change. As Rat Kiley is telling the story you can tell he r adds in small lies to make the tensions rise in the story, like the necklace of tongues. The story shows that how the war changes everyone in some way, maybe not as huge as Mary Anne but in small ways. After reading the story of Mary Anne Bell I did not know what to think, at first I thought I was a little strange that one of the men snuck their girlfriend into a war where danger was always nearby. After reading he whole story I was just confused, the story seemed a little exaggerated which I think was due to the fact the Rat Kiley was telling it but always because I don not think anything like that could ever happen. The quote above, I think, has the same meaning as the story, that the war changes everyone in one way or another. You can apply this quote to any big change in your life, you start of with one perspective of life but as things change in your life your perspective changes also.
ReplyDeleteThe transformation in Mary Anne is caused by her discovering the land of Vietnam. She learns what the people are like and what war is like, and she knows she can’t return back knowing that people are suffering. Like Kyla said, Mary Anne goes on night raids and begins transforming through those. She sees the other side of the war with violence and fear. She gets curious and wants to help.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley is known for exaggerating in stories, so the men don’t know what to believe and what is an overstatement. The story says how much and how quickly Vietnam can change a person. A girl who just came there to visit her childhood sweetheart has changed so quickly that she runs away into Vietnam.
I was pretty surprised by the story, as Mary Anne entered the base so innocent. Like the other men, when Mary Anne first disappeared, I assumed she had been cheating on her boyfriend, so the truth really shocked me. Mary Anne took it further and ran away entirely, which left me dumbfounded on how strange and terrifying the Vietnam war must have been.
I agree with the quote. I’ve heard in the past about previous war stories that feature PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which is common in veterans. As the quote says, you go over to the different country just as any normal American, happy, carefree, and “clean”. However, as you see so many people dying, you just can’t come out of it the same way. Your memories and dreams are haunted with these deaths and these terrible incidents. You come out of the war “dirty”, and you can’t ever go back and become “clean” again.
The transformation in Mary Anne Bell was the same result of many of the men who served in Vietnam. They say many times in the story how Vietnam changes a person, and for Mary Anne Bell, she will never be the same person. The constant action and way of life in the land surrounding her interested her to the point where she did not want to leave. She became just as much a part of the war as anybody else. Rat Kiley was widely known for exaggerating the stories he told and typically the men do not believe much of what he says. However, this story is just an example of how much Vietnam changes a person and how they think and act. It shows how living in Vietnam can alter someone's life and completely turn someone another way. This story was truly an eye opener for me. I did not believe someone's life could drastically change so quickly or so largely during a war. O'Brien's quote on page 114 simply wraps up the whole purpose of the story in just a few words -- you enter the war as who you think you are and leave as who you become. His quote emphasizes how different you are after the war. Relating this quote to life, as you grow up and go through life choices, you change who you are. You are never the same person you were when you were a child.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne Belle’s transformation was dramatic and unexpected in my opinion. I had originally expected her to become disgusted with the war and what she saw once she started living in the camp, but she adapted and began working with the medics to treat the injured. Then, she joined the special forces men on a trip before Fossie was going to send her home. This last trip seems to complete her transformation into a combat ready woman who knows the dangers and horror of war, making her want to stay in Vietnam. Mary feels alive, as she has seen the worst in the world, yet she is amazed by it. She no longer wants to go back to being sheltered at home, acting oblivious to what is happening overseas.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley’s pauses and added in comments and observations make the story more interesting and add tension. However, for me, the mere events are enough to add a mysterious feeling to all of the events, from Mary’s arrival to her disappearance with the Special Forces men. He also stops to clarify certain parts, add in extra details, and exaggerate some facts, like the necklace of tongues. I have a hard time believing every part of this story, but as O’Brien has mentioned before, no war story is completely true.
I believe the quote is accurate in explaining what happened to Mary Anne and what happens to many soldiers that go to war. They go over innocent and not understanding what the war is about, but come back with injuries, post traumatic stress disorders and anxieties, and death. They know a friend who died, they had to kill another human being, or it’s possible that they died. Basically, they go from only knowing about the “little stuff” in their hometown to knowing about the death and large scale destruction in Vietnam. It is also true today because like Diana said, it can apply to almost any big change in your life. When people convert from one religion to another, they change beliefs and accept new ideas. Actually going to war opened many soldiers’ eyes to the horrors of the war they were fighting in, because they experienced it firsthand.
The transformation of Mary Anne Belle is in my opinion a good metaphor for how the war affects soldiers. When first entering Vietnam, O'Brien and the men around him start off innocent but as the war progresses they become more wild and unfeeling to deal with the psychological trauma. Just as Mary Anne Bell become more in tune with the war and Vietnam itself, the men who fought in Vietnam also adapted to their surroundings as a coping mechanism. Part of the Vietnam experience is how your character and values change due to the stress and pain.
ReplyDeleteWhile I doubt the legitimacy of Mary Anne Belle's story, it is still a good way of conveying what the conflict does to previously normal people. The story may not seem accurate or plausible, but it did a good job of portraying the effects of war.
In my opinion the transformation of Mary Anne Bell shows how much war can change a person. Her innocence changes as she starts to learn and adapt to the Vietnam land. Found wearing a necklace of tongues really proves how much she has changed as she claimed the necklace was 'normal'. Rat Kiley's way of telling this story makes people wonder because he adds a sense of mystery and suspense to it. This story really shows how much a war can change someone. The fear and tension can manipulate someones mind, twisting it into something dark. My reaction to this story was highly disturbed, especially when I read that they found her with a necklace of tongues. With the quote, "What happened to her...was what happened to all of them. You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it's never the same" (114) completely true of how a war can change a person. This story really shows how much a war can affect someone and how quickly someone can adapt to new land.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne Bell was Rat Kiley's elementary sweetheart. I believe she changes because of the different environment, the soldiers have a different mind set, and their way of living. She was used to the way Americans lived and when she arrived in Vietnam she had to adjust to the Vietnamese way. My opinion is that he shouldn't of invited her to Vietnam in the first place because there is always a chance of loosing your life. When Rat Kiley's told the story it added tension because he showed how he felt for her, he explained how he wanted her to go home, and the fear he had when she went missing. When Rat Kiley explained how she wore a necklace with human tongues kinda discussed me but it made me believe that not every war story is true. This story shocked me in many ways but most of all made me realize that war really does change people.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne Bell started out as the typical girl from the States, somehow visiting Vietnam and her boyfriend. With how the United States used to be, she didn't really know much of her own potential. When Mary Anne was exposed to all the different things going on in the camp, it seemed like she didn't really want to settle for what she would be going back to the States for. Mary Anne Bell turned herself from a future house-wife into someone who could support herself, eventually escaping society altogether. When Rat told the story and revealed that he loved her and so did everyone else in a way, telling the story as a tragedy suddenly made more sense. I thought the quote showed how everyone goes into war innocent and not really knowing what is coming and how soldiers leave with scars and injuries and mental disabilities, such as PTSD.
ReplyDeleteI think that the whole experience of a different and foreign land is what changed Mary Anne Bell. The whole Vietnam experience was harsh and Gorey unlike her safe and comfortable homeland. This whole story really opened my eyes to how it must have been fighting in Vietnam. The quote also shows how these soldiers go off to war not knowing what exactly they are getting into and then come home changed people. Some people just can't handle as much change and tragedy as other people and it can either change them for the better or for the worst.
ReplyDeleteI think that the whole experience of a different and foreign land is what changed Mary Anne Bell. The whole Vietnam experience was harsh and Gorey unlike her safe and comfortable homeland. This whole story really opened my eyes to how it must have been fighting in Vietnam. The quote also shows how these soldiers go off to war not knowing what exactly they are getting into and then come home changed people. Some people just can't handle as much change and tragedy as other people and it can either change them for the better or for the worst.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but feel like other dynamics of Mary Anne should be mentioned. The way she dressed and cared for herself seemed to be a large part of her daily life. She bathed regularly and wore gentle, feminine clothes. By the end of her Vietnam experience, she was filthy and rough around the edges. The once delicate young lady had been transformed into a tough young solider.
DeleteMary Anne Bell is changed by her curiosity for the War. When as she asks more questions, she becomes more and more intrigued. Just visiting Song Tra Bong comepletely changes who she begins the story as. Mary Anne changes entirely because she succumbs to the life in Vietnam. "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" is a story of how drastically Vietnam changed the people who fought there. Rat Kiley's character adds to the story by pausing often. O'Brien explains this as Rat Kiley "wanted to bracket the full range of meaning." (p.101) The story of the "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" shows just how the War in Vietnam could shake people down and change them completely. O'Brien uses Rat Kiley's character to describe what happened to Mary Anne: "The girl joined the zoo. One more animal-- end of story." (p.102) Rat Kiley finishes the story of Mary Anne by saying that she eventually was consumed by the land and finally became an official part of it.
ReplyDeleteReading "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," I was able to better understand the toll the Vietnam War took on the men who fought. The soldiers submerged themselves into a lifestyle that ripped them down to their animalistic instincts and forced them to commit acts that they normally wouldn't have. O'Brien making the point that soldiers could go in clean and come out dirty just proves the toll that the War would take on them. The quote "You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it's never the same," not only relates to the War, but to life in general. Everyone has been in situations when we go in innocent, blank, and unharmed, but after we are tossed around, beaten up, and hurt, we can never revert back to that same pure state. I feel like that's the most important lesson that can be learned from "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" is that there are situations in and throughout life that people experience that they will not come out of the same as before they experienced it and can never return to that state.
I believe that the biggest factor in Mary Anne's transformation was her becoming desensitized to her surroundings. I'm sure at first she was unsure about her choice of coming to Vietnam, but over time she craved more of the chaos she saw on a daily basis. Like when she began working with the medics, after a while she adapted to the gore of the war and her curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to be apart of what the men where doing and it completely changed her personality.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I believe all of the events that Rat Kiley described to everyone, but it did grab my attention. I think Rat's interpretation showed us how crazy Vietnam really was, even if his story wasn't completely true.
I think the story of Mary Anne should be taken more as a metaphor to show how a war can flip someone's world up side down. The quote above is trying to show us exactly what violence and total chaos can do to a human being. It slowly eats away at the person, destroying everything they know about a "normal" lifestyle. This also applies to people who may have been abused or mistreated in their past lives or to people who may not have had the best upbringing but I feel that the results are overall the same.
Mary Anne Bell's transformation occurred inevitably because someone who is exposed to the horrors that occur in war will never be the same. Each person is made of a pile of experiences and how they decide to react to each one both immediately and as their life goes on determines who they are. In her most likely sheltered and tragedy-free life, Mary Anne Bell was sweet, shy, and innocent. When war touched her, it crept in slowly, not making its presence known until it had its claws sunk in too deep.
ReplyDeleteThis story showed how people are greatly changed by the things they see, and in Vietnam especially, war was gruesome and senseless murder. The Vietnam War was unlike other wars as the victory was counted in death -of the Vietcong- instead of miles.
I do somewhat agree with the quote on page 114, some things do never return to what we see/saw as "normal," but if one dedicates oneself to healing, much pain can be dealt with and avoided in the future. In Vietnam's terms, the tragedies that occur in a soldier's presence will never completely go away, but if one comes to terms with it, instead of trying to erase it without acknowledging it, mental and emotional healing will, to a degree, arrive.
Mary Anne Bell's transformation occurred inevitably because someone who is exposed to the horrors that occur in war will never be the same. Each person is made of a pile of experiences and how they decide to react to each one both immediately and as their life goes on determines who they are. In her most likely sheltered and tragedy-free life, Mary Anne Bell was sweet, shy, and innocent. When war touched her, it crept in slowly, not making its presence known until it had its claws sunk in too deep.
ReplyDeleteThis story showed how people are greatly changed by the things they see, and in Vietnam especially, war was gruesome and senseless murder. The Vietnam War was unlike other wars as the victory was counted in death -of the Vietcong- instead of miles.
I do somewhat agree with the quote on page 114, some things do never return to what we see/saw as "normal," but if one dedicates oneself to healing, much pain can be dealt with and avoided in the future. In Vietnam's terms, the tragedies that occur in a soldier's presence will never completely go away, but if one comes to terms with it, instead of trying to erase it without acknowledging it, mental and emotional healing will, to a degree, arrive.
Mary Anne Bell's transformation occurred inevitably because someone who is exposed to the horrors that occur in war will never be the same. Each person is made of a pile of experiences and how they decide to react to each one both immediately and as their life goes on determines who they are. In her most likely sheltered and tragedy-free life, Mary Anne Bell was sweet, shy, and innocent. When war touched her, it crept in slowly, not making its presence known until it had its claws sunk in too deep.
ReplyDeleteThis story showed how people are greatly changed by the things they see, and in Vietnam especially, war was gruesome and senseless murder. The Vietnam War was unlike other wars as the victory was counted in death -of the Vietcong- instead of miles.
I do somewhat agree with the quote on page 114, some things do never return to what we see/saw as "normal," but if one dedicates oneself to healing, much pain can be dealt with and avoided in the future. In Vietnam's terms, the tragedies that occur in a soldier's presence will never completely go away, but if one comes to terms with it, instead of trying to erase it without acknowledging it, mental and emotional healing will, to a degree, arrive.
Curiosity and horror is what ultimately lead to Mary Anne Bell's unfortunate transformation. When a very innocent individual collides with the horrors and reality of war things go bad. But add in curiosity as well and you're asking for a highly toxic personality change. (No offense to other readers, but if you thought that Mary wouldn't go rogue then you don't know human nature.) Mary spent time caring for the wounded, visiting a Vietnamese village, and listening to the guys talk, but she always wanted more. She learned how to operate a gun, and that didn't even help control her over-whelming sense of wanting to do more for the war. She had been sheltered her whole life, but war can change even the most neutral and innocent of people. Maybe Mary liked the thrill of taking down enemies at night with an M-16, or maybe she felt useful for the first time in her life when she helped bandage the wounded, but whatever she felt lead to her changing from a care-free teen to a hard-hitting and gritty war pawn. It isn't so much the war itself that changes people, it's the way the war sinks into the skin, heart, and mind of its victims that change the soldiers profoundly.
ReplyDeleteI believe the transformation in Mary Anne Bell was caused due to her finding out what the war was like. She learned all about what really goes on and experienced it first hand. The war was not a good thing to be around. It was full of sadness and death. My response to the quote on 114 is that it is very true. The characters were changed by the war. everything they see and everything that happened changed them and things will never be the same for them. They went into the war not sure what would happen and everything that happened was unexpected. They came out of the war as a completely different person with a new perspective on things.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," the transformation in Mary Anne Bell is caused by her realization of how Vietnam is. Mary quickly learns that Vietnam is a brutal place and in order for her to be there she needs to change her ways to compromise to the land and things around her. Many people say how the war is a place that changes you as a whole because of how rough it is, which is very true. Seeing things like the fighting and killing in the war first hand can really change someone.
ReplyDeleteThe way Rat Kiley adds tension to the story was by how it told it in a non formal way. He would pause and explain parts of the story, such as the little details like the way Mary looked after her transformation and the necklace of tongues around Mary's neck near the end of the story. The story tells about the Vietnam experience in a very dark way. It shows that even the most kind and gentle people can turn into cold, hardened shells of a human. My reaction to the story was general shock because of how quickly Mary changed in such a short amount of time.
The quote from O'Brien is a true quote. It explains Vietnam very well: You come from the safety and protection of your home, go into the war with life-risking tasks, see death, and you're never able to wipe it from your memory. The things that happen in war are some of the most mind-warping things a human could see and can really change someone.
Mary Anne Bell is changed by the atmosphere of Vietnam itself. It is not a beneficial place for her to be at the time of the war. It is never safe, dirty, and stressful. In order to keep up with what was happening in Vietnam while she was there, she needed to adapt to her surroundings. Rat Kiley makes this story tense by telling the story in a casual way as if it was small talk. Kiley was very descriptive as to how Mary acted with the transformation. For example, he talks about how she leaves in the night and comes back days later with the green beret soldiers. The story goes to show how much the war can really change a person. I was surprised after reading the story. I expected her to change to become accustomed to the situation, but not to that degree. Mary completely changed her personality, which is what got me surprised. The quote shows the reader the effects of Vietnam. the things you see and experience in the war can change a person's view of the world and their personality. Being in a place totally foreign to you forces you to trust those around you to protect you. That can be a huge change for someone.Seeing people die can cause major changes in a soldier. What a soldier sees in war will stay with him or her the rest of their life.
ReplyDeleteThe change in Mary Anne Bell is caused by the raw exposure to Vietnam like a cancer, it grew on her. The poor village, the bloody men and vicious war. Many of these things are in their own a traumatizing experience, but the only way to adapt to this is by changing personalities. Her "bubbly" personality quickly popped once thrown into bloody fix-ups, poor villages, and finally unforgiving night hunts with green berets. Rat kiley paints Mary's start to finish experience, from arriving to never being seen again. He explains to the point and by simply describing where she went, it gave the reader insight of who shes become. When saying she spent days away at a time, it was intended to suggest shes with Vietnam now, as lastly said shes been consumed by the land. The story really tells the reader that any war(specifically Vietnam) can and will change a person, sometimes more than others. The Vietnam experience is something of bizarre nature, a war with no morals or sanity to keep a person from turning into something polar opposite of who they are. My reaction to the story was amazed, shocked, and a little saddened. It points out how sometimes our decisions we make are harmless and for possibly a pity of a reason, but can turn into such a wrong decision that cannot be reversed. Mary shows how innocent she was, how her idea of going to Vietnam was to see her boyfriend. Little did she know that idea would turn her into a lost cause with a whole new look on life.
ReplyDeleteI think O'brien's quote is accurate to any war, specifically Vietnam of course. War is a horrible reality, the ones who are in it take the blunt reality of it. Many men that served in Vietnam were changed forever, O'brien himself states a couple times in the book how he cant forget things that happen or the things hes seen will never leave his memory. The news alone puts people in disbelief in whats going on in the middle east and other parts of the world, the horror stories that are toned down just to be allowed on news. I couldn't imagine living through such horrific experiences, like watching a person get killed or worse kill someone. Many veterans face PTSD for a reason, just a example of many things that can change a person in a war.
Mary Anne Bell adjusted to the life of Vietnam because she pretty much had to. She had to learn how to survive in Chu Lai or she wouldn't have lasted very long.Rat Kiley telling the story added tension because he is known for exaggerating his stories. I found it a little far fetched that a month later she would be found with the clothes on she had before and a necklace of tongues around her neck.O'Brien is stating that once you go into a war, you are mentally changed coming out of it. An example would be Post Dramatic Stress Disorder which has happened to many war veterans.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Mary Anne Bell was changed because of the exposure and reality of Vietnam. Once she arrived in Vietnam, all she wanted to do was learn what everything was about and became very curious. For Mary Anne, Vietnam was a new mystery that had to be discovered. Vietnam was a new adventure for Mary Anne, and she was not afraid to dig deep. She didn't care that the men didn't think it was a good idea for her to roam around Vietnam. The reality of Vietnam was that once you found out the impact that Vietnam had on a person or a group of people, it will change the way you think and view things. Mary Anne proved this point very well after she learned what Vietnam was all about out, her personality changed dramatically. She wanted to explore the land where she was staying and learn the routine of the war. Even Eddie Diamond said "There's the scary part. I promise you, this girl will learn" (92). The Vietnam experience made Mary Anne's personality change dramatically. She was not the bubbly sweet girl that Mark Fossie loved and adored anymore. Rat Kiley told the story in his own way to add emphasis and zest and to prove to others the way Vietnam will change the outlook of a person. My reaction to Mary Anne Bell is not surprising, because it is a clear fact that Vietnam changes people.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the quote on page 114, because there are many other characters that are changed by the war, one character I quickly thought of was Norman Bowker. After the war, he was left hopeless without a stable job and lived with his parents. He was not happy with himself, which led him to get tired of his life and commit suicide. Outside of the book, there are many people that have came out of the war with PTSD, as Olivia mentioned earlier in the comments.
I believe that Mary Anne Bell was changed because of the exposure and reality of Vietnam. Once she arrived in Vietnam, all she wanted to do was learn what everything was about and became very curious. For Mary Anne, Vietnam was a new mystery that had to be discovered. Vietnam was a new adventure for Mary Anne, and she was not afraid to dig deep. She didn't care that the men didn't think it was a good idea for her to roam around Vietnam. The reality of Vietnam was that once you found out the impact that Vietnam had on a person or a group of people, it will change the way you think and view things. Mary Anne proved this point very well after she learned what Vietnam was all about out, her personality changed dramatically. She wanted to explore the land where she was staying and learn the routine of the war. Even Eddie Diamond said "There's the scary part. I promise you, this girl will learn" (92). The Vietnam experience made Mary Anne's personality change dramatically. She was not the bubbly sweet girl that Mark Fossie loved and adored anymore. Rat Kiley told the story in his own way to add emphasis and zest and to prove to others the way Vietnam will change the outlook of a person. My reaction to Mary Anne Bell is not surprising, because it is a clear fact that Vietnam changes people.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the quote on page 114, because there are many other characters that are changed by the war, one character I quickly thought of was Norman Bowker. After the war, he was left hopeless without a stable job and lived with his parents. He was not happy with himself, which led him to get tired of his life and commit suicide. Outside of the book, there are many people that have came out of the war with PTSD, as Olivia mentioned earlier in the comments.
Mart Anne Bell was Mark Fossie's girlfriend from Cleveland. When Mary Anne came to the war she wanted to fit in and experience new things. She did various tasks and the surroundings slowly changed her. The exposure of war life changed her from sweet and innocent Mary Anne to a warrior. She was fresh out of high school when she went to Vietnam and was not really sure who she was, and she ended up finding herself in the war. Rat Kiley added tension to the story by exaggerating details and adding his personal opinion. This story says that war or anywhere that has a traumatic event can change you. Seeing death and destruction around you for a period of time can give you a perspective on life. My response to the quote above is that it is completely true. One can not be around something destructive as a war and walk out the same as before the war. The sight, smell, and sound of death can stay with someone forever when they realize that could have been them. I can not personally relate because I was not old enough, but I know people in New York during 9/11 could relate.
ReplyDeleteIn “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” Mary Anne Bell’s transformation is caused by her curiosity of the her new environment. Soon after she arrived, Mary began to ask questions about the war, such as what a claymore was and what a trip-flare did. Eventually she began to help out the base’s medics, patching wounds and helping the injured. This curiosity led her to go on ambushes with the Greenies. Thus, Mary Anne’s own curiosity is what transformed her in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley’s telling of the story adds tension as he would often pause before dramatic moments. Sometimes, when he paused, he would question his audience about what might happen next. Furthermore, Kiley builds tension by viciously denying any disbelief that arose from his telling of the story. Along with adding in what his personal thoughts were about the story as it unfolds, Kiley also embellished his stories like most others. However, Kiley’s embellishments are used to make the story better instead of the usual purpose of making an amazing and eye-opening story that seems unrealistic.
The story of Mary Anne Bell shows just how life changing the Vietnam War could be. The story shows that Vietnam could change anyone, including a perfectly innocent girl. Furthermore, the story shows the traditional daily lives of the men at the base in Vietnam which is uneventful compared to the fieldwork and abushes that other men in the war had to do, like the greenies who used the base as their center of operations. I was a little bit surprised by this story as it seemed to me to be irrational for someone to bring over a person they loved and put them in the way of danger. I also was surprised that Mary Anne did not abandon Mark Fossie for another one of the men at the base. While I read “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” I also expected something bad to happen to Mary Anne, such as her getting shot or kidnapped by the Viet Cong, but such an event never happened.
I agree with what Rat Kiley stated about everyone coming to Vietnam clean and then leaving dirty, as it is proven by the fact that it not only happened to Mary Anne, but O’Brien too. When O’Brien came over to Vietnam he was innocent, just like Mary Anne was, but eventually came to enjoy the adventure and action of the war. O’Brien admits this when he states “In an odd way, though, there were times when I missed the adventure, even the danger, of the real war out in the boonies.” (p.183) The quote applies directly to Vietnam as many of those who were drafted were scared to go to the war but eventually became well acquainted with realities of war through their forced involvement. The phrase “...get dirty and then afterward it's never the same” (p. 109) not only means that the soldiers got physically dirty, but that they also got dirty mentally after witnessing the horror of war firsthand. One can relate the general idea to their average life by looking at traumatic events that happened to them and how their life changed in accordance to that event.
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ReplyDeleteI believe the quote relates to Vietnam and the war because once someone went to Vietnam, saw the fighting, the death, and the way people treated all of it, you were changed, you saw the whole world from a new perspective and you often times were much braver. When O'Brien says she got dirty, he's just saying the war got to her, it got in her head and changed everything she thought about and the way she thought about it, I believe the slow pace with which Rat told the story is what added to the tension, often being told to rush because the guys were eager to here the end, this added to it because he spoke slowly and without much emotion behind his words, he spoke calmy and let the story come out on its own
ReplyDeleteI feel that Mary Anne Bell's change occurred because she was exposed to the cruelty and horrors that was Vietnam. She was no longer in a safe and secure environment like she was back at home. She had to be able to take care of herself and not rely on others to do it for her. While Rat Kiley's story telling was very detailed and so it made you feel like you actually knew Mary Anne Bell. This is what I believe added the tension to his story telling. This story really does open your eyes as to how truly horrifying the war in Vietnam was.
ReplyDeleteI believe the stress and intensity of being in Vietnam during the war is what brought about the change in Mary Anne Bell. When O'Brien says she got dirty he was saying she had become just like the rest of them. She was no longer an innocent school teacher, she had become a killer and a soldier in the Vietnam war.She had even moved on past her relationship with Fossie and instead put all her focus on the war.
ReplyDeleteI think Mary Anne Bell changed because she liked the adrenaline rush it provided; before she was just a simple school teacher, who was brought over for Fossie. When she arrived she was caught in the trance of how Vietnam had a soul, it held more than just dirt and trees, it held the freedom to be anything she wanted to be. She got caught up in everything around her slowly becoming more and more like the soldiers steering away from the girl she used to be causing strain on Fossie and hers relationship. War became real, she became war, and she became real. Rat Kiley's telling of the story made it so dramatic adding tension to the story by how he over exaggerated even the smallest details. When he told the story it felt real. He denied any contradictions and any lack of belief. My reaction at first was there's no way, they would not send a young girl over to Vietnam during a war. My second reaction if the story was true, I can understand that she changed, war changes people. I can understand the thrill of being out there just trying to survive. The adrenaline rush it would bring would be enough. My response to the quote is that no one can experience something as life changing as war and not come home a different person. It just tells the truth of how all the men came over as little boys and came home as full grown men who have witnessed and endured so many things that grew them up too fast. It also is like saying they went over unharmed, unwounded, unscarred and came back harmed, wounded, and scarred whether it be physically or mentally no one left the war unmarked.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne Bell changed because she had to. After seeing all the bloody and injured soldiers being brought into the camp made her tougher and less sensitive. She eventually got used to it. She also liked the adventure and adrenaline rush she got from going on missions with the Green Berets. Rat Kiley added more tension to the story because of how slow and detailed he told it. The other thing that added tension was the fact that Rat Kiley was known to exaggerate or even lie but for this particular story he swore he was telling the truth. This story shows how extreme Vietnam was and how badly it can affect someones mind. I think that Rat Kiley was telling the truth. This quote means that what happened in Vietnam changed every soldier in some way for the rest of his life. This quote does relate to real life. It means that people will adapt to their environment. If a person lives somewhere where he/she has to be tough or mean, then that person will become tougher and meaner.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne Bell changed because she had to. After seeing all the bloody and injured soldiers being brought into the camp made her tougher and less sensitive. She eventually got used to it. She also liked the adventure and adrenaline rush she got from going on missions with the Green Berets. Rat Kiley added more tension to the story because of how slow and detailed he told it. The other thing that added tension was the fact that Rat Kiley was known to exaggerate or even lie but for this particular story he swore he was telling the truth. This story shows how extreme Vietnam was and how badly it can affect someones mind. I think that Rat Kiley was telling the truth. This quote means that what happened in Vietnam changed every soldier in some way for the rest of his life. This quote does relate to real life. It means that people will adapt to their environment. If a person lives somewhere where he/she has to be tough or mean, then that person will become tougher and meaner.
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DeleteI agree with the statement that Mary Anne Bell changed because she couldn't really avoid it. After going to war and practically in a whole new world, the idea that someone wouldn't change is inevitable. Rat Kiley tells the story as he knows it but in reality, his story is focused not on Mary Anne Bell's transformation, but her loss of innocence and who she once was. I believe that Fossie tried too hard to put an end to the situation with Mary Anne Belle by attempting to send her back to end his emotional burden but since a true war story has no ending, it's hard to see how Fossie would be able to ever put an end to it.The quote shows a lot about how after a traumatic event, such as going to war, can alter a person's sensibility or who they are because of the baggage carried on their arms. Non of the men in Vietnam will ever be the same after the war and I believe that the change in Mary Anne Bell was just noticed more because the men saw the difference in her character before and during the time that she stays in Vietnam in a relatively short time compared to the time spent there by the soldiers due to the the more dramatic changes.
DeleteO'Brien's statement I believe could be said to describe any military person in any war. When a person goes to a war or a war zone they see and experience things that many people couldn't even imagine seeing or going through. What they experience changes them in a way that is unchangeable. From something as heartbreaking as a fellow comrade dying to something as gut-wrenching as seeing a mass of dead bodies, war veterans have seen things that they will never forget. Just as I have gone through life and seen and experienced things that have made an impact on my life so have veterans theirs have just come more harshly. I'm not in any way comparing myself to a person who has been in war, I'm just explaining how events in the past can leave an everlasting impact on a persons life.
ReplyDeleteI can compare this quote to an experience I had this summer. At the end of July I traveled to Haiti as a pretty average American, a person always wanting the best and always wanting more, but when I came back I wasn't the same. Because of the things I saw and experienced there my outlook on some things in life are different. I no longer feel like i need the best things that the world offers and I realized I can be content with what I have. Although I can't say for sure I will always think like this, I can say I hope I will never be the same.
In the beginning, Mary Anne Bell is curious and a bit naive about the war. She would ask questions about the war and Vietnam, and she would roam the compound. However, after a while, like all of the soldiers, she began to change. Because she wasn't the person that she was before coming to Vietnam, her relationship was strained. Like everyone else, she was a different person because of the war.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, Mary Anne Bell is curious and a bit naive about the war. She would ask questions about the war and Vietnam, and she would roam the compound. However, after a while, like all of the soldiers, she began to change. Because she wasn't the person that she was before coming to Vietnam, her relationship was strained. Like everyone else, she was a different person because of the war.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, Mary Anne Bell is curious and a bit naive about the war. She would ask questions about the war and Vietnam, and she would roam the compound. However, after a while, like all of the soldiers, she began to change. Because she wasn't the person that she was before coming to Vietnam, her relationship was strained. Like everyone else, she was a different person because of the war.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite stories that was told. Mary Anne Bell, like any young adult, came over to the war sweet an curious. Sadly, her curiosity turn a dirty turn and she hit reality. during her first couple days she wanted to tour the "quaint" little towns. Soon after she went on a night mission and was no longer a sweet and curious child. Much like asking a question you already know the answer to. Mary Anne knew she was in a war zone but that wasn't enough to just know or assume how things are. So she "asked her question" by going on the mission. After that there was no denying the truths that she witnessed and was involved in. There was no erasing whatever it was she saw that took the sweet innocence from her eyes. That was the wars effect on all of those that fell into it.
ReplyDeleteThe transformation of Mary Anne Bell was created by nothing but her own curiosity. The war had intrigued her, and the land had created a mystery to Marry Anne--a mystery she hoped to explore. She was quite skilled, and learned rather fast. These characteristics allowed her to adapt quickly to the Vietnamese atmosphere, the casualties, the weaponry, and to the perpetual presence of death. Her quick adaptation gave her confidence, she was good at what she did, and she knew it. The feeling of control and power overwhelmed her, and she used it to her own advantage out on missions with the Greenies. Mary Anne Bell chose power over her old life, leaving the ones who loved her behind.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley's telling of the story adds to the tension of suspense. His pauses would add a bit of dramatic flair to the story, making the listener anxious to hear more, to know what was coming up next. Along with his dramatic pauses, would be his solemn expression. Although the story was light-heartened to begin with, Kiley's solemn expression would foreshadow to the listeners the horrors of what was yet to come.
I believe this story says quite a bit about the Vietnam experience for soldiers during this time period as well. Studies show that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) is common among war veterans, the war is known to have changed many people's perspectives upon many things. Soldiers go through unimaginable things during times of war, war changes people. I believe Marry Anne Bell's experience was not unique or rare in any way, shape, or form. This was a common occurrence during these times, the only difference may be, perhaps, that she was a woman. My reaction to this story was that I was intrigued. It was a fascinating story to read, in my opinion. Her transformation was so shocking, yet at the same time, it truly wasn't. This story just adds more evidence to the fact that people can change when placed in an environment fit to do so, a basic rule of adaptation.
I believe that quote pertains to the idea of adaptation. When one is placed in a dire situation, or a life threatening environment, one has no choice but to evolve into someone who strives to survive. Basic survival instincts kick into place, changing one's perspective and decision making skills in order to make it out alive. This applies greatly to Vietnam, considering all the soldiers who go there get placed in life threatening situations, and are forced to adapt quickly, or to face death. I believe you can also relate this general quote to life as well. Children seem to have a special kind of innocence in comparison to adults. As people grow older, they experience more things, positive and negative things. These experiences mold people into who they become, and through these experiences, they learn to mature. Once you mature, life's never the same as it was when you were a child. Everyone changes, everyone adapts, it's just a way of life.
The transformation of Mary Anne Bell was created by nothing but her own curiosity. The war had intrigued her, and the land had created a mystery to Marry Anne--a mystery she hoped to explore. She was quite skilled, and learned rather fast. These characteristics allowed her to adapt quickly to the Vietnamese atmosphere, the casualties, the weaponry, and to the perpetual presence of death. Her quick adaptation gave her confidence, she was good at what she did, and she knew it. The feeling of control and power overwhelmed her, and she used it to her own advantage out on missions with the Greenies. Mary Anne Bell chose power over her old life, leaving the ones who loved her behind.
ReplyDeleteRat Kiley's telling of the story adds to the tension of suspense. His pauses would add a bit of dramatic flair to the story, making the listener anxious to hear more, to know what was coming up next. Along with his dramatic pauses, would be his solemn expression. Although the story was light-heartened to begin with, Kiley's solemn expression would foreshadow to the listeners the horrors of what was yet to come.
I believe this story says quite a bit about the Vietnam experience for soldiers during this time period as well. Studies show that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) is common among war veterans, the war is known to have changed many people's perspectives upon many things. Soldiers go through unimaginable things during times of war, war changes people. I believe Marry Anne Bell's experience was not unique or rare in any way, shape, or form. This was a common occurrence during these times, the only difference may be, perhaps, that she was a woman. My reaction to this story was that I was intrigued. It was a fascinating story to read, in my opinion. Her transformation was so shocking, yet at the same time, it truly wasn't. This story just adds more evidence to the fact that people can change when placed in an environment fit to do so, a basic rule of adaptation.
I believe that quote pertains to the idea of adaptation. When one is placed in a dire situation, or a life threatening environment, one has no choice but to evolve into someone who strives to survive. Basic survival instincts kick into place, changing one's perspective and decision making skills in order to make it out alive. This applies greatly to Vietnam, considering all the soldiers who go there get placed in life threatening situations, and are forced to adapt quickly, or to face death. I believe you can also relate this general quote to life as well. Children seem to have a special kind of innocence in comparison to adults. As people grow older, they experience more things, positive and negative things. These experiences mold people into who they become, and through these experiences, they learn to mature. Once you mature, life's never the same as it was when you were a child. Everyone changes, everyone adapts, it's just a way of life.
While reading this story the little saying "curiosity killed the cat" kept playing through my mind. Mary Anne Bell was the perfect example of a young soldier. Although she was not drafted into the war she perfectly mirrored what it might be like for a recent high school graduate in the Vietnam war. When she first arrived with the supplies she was this sweet and innocent girl(however naive she was). Many people have an experience that changes them forever. In Mary Anne's case this was joining the green berets. In war, more times than not, a person becomes mentally changed rather than physically. When Mary Anne joined the green berets she found something that changed her. It brought out a side in her I bet not even she knew that she had. The experience of killing someone had left her as a new person. She got curious as to what the greenies were all about and then had a taste of the medicine herself. The quote "What happened to her...was what happened to all of them. You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it's never the same" (144) perfectly outlines how her curiosity led to become the assassin that she was at the end of Rat's story. In Mary Anne's case curiosity didn't necessarily kill the cat, but it did chew her up and spit her out; changing who she was inside and out.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann Bell was transformed because she was exposed to the evil and danger associated with Vietnam. She was originally a sweet, likable girl who liked to explore and was very curious. She came to a rude awakening in Vietnam when she realized just how evil people can be. She snapped under the tension of dealing with the danger of Vietnam and wanting to escape from her ordinary life with Mark Fossie. This says that the malevolent and deadly conditions can change anyone no matter how pure at heart they are. This story made me realize that anyone can change for the better or worse with any traumatic event or scarring situation. O’Brien’s quote is very accurate because Vietnam changed even the best of the soldier and people in Vietnam just like how people change when they go through rough times.
ReplyDeleteYou hear of many war veterans returning home with PTSD. Vietnam, in particular, was known as being especially powerful in changing a person. This is exactly the case in the story of Mary Anne Bell. She arrived in Vietnam very curious and always asking questions, trying to learn things. The guys would keep saying "she'll learn," and that's exactly what she did. She goes missing one night, and it turns out she was out the entire night on an ambush. By the end of this story, she is a completely different person. Exposure to the war and traumatic experiences caused her to change. She even made a necklace out of human tongues (something I don't expect many "stable" people to do). The quote on page 114 is true in that Vietnam caused people to adapt to the cruel circumstances of the war.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann is first brought into the story by her boyfriend since grades school. She is described as a pretty young girl who is smart but hopelessly out of place. She symbolizes innocence and love. But she starts to get involved with the greenies and begins being corrupted by the war. Things start to change and her boyfriend Mark Fossie is devastated that he is losing his one love. She goes from this innocent school girl to this warrior who wears tongues as a necklace. All in all it shows that once innocence is lost it can't be regained. Love and war have always gone hand in hand, opposites but then again not so different. But when love and war are brought together one is always changed significantly by the other. Just like the quote that says "You come over clean and get dirty and you are never the same."(114) This shows the love and innocence Mary Ann had was tainted by her surroundings much like life can do in any situation.
ReplyDeleteThe transformation of Mary Anne Bell was caused by being in Vietnam, surrounded by death and war. This story really showed how being in Vietnam affected the soldiers in terrible ways. It messed with their minds and emotioins, and affected each person a little differently. This story kind of made me imagine if I was in Vietetnam, and how those things would affect me. This quote shows how that when something affects you, it can change your thoughts, actions, decisions, and life as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIn the Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong, Mary Ann goes through drastic changes. When Mary Ann first arrives in Vietnam she is this beautiful, young girl full of curiosity. She soon fell into the habits of the other soldiers, no longer cared for her hygiene and cut her hair short. Her transformation was also for the better the way she carried herself was more confident for she learned a lot while she was there. Vietnam seems like the kind of place you find yourself, figure out the ways you don’t want to live, and how awful war really is. The way Rat Kiley told the story really messes with your head. The whole time I was waiting for Mary Ann to die because his tone was so depressing, it made me think of the worst.
ReplyDeleteIn this story, the transformation in Mary Ann was caused by the environment of Vietnam and the people that she was surrounded with. She became a masculine 'product' of Vietnam from the feminine and beautiful women she was. To make it worse, Rat Kiley had a reputation to exaggerate many stories. However, whatever form this story is told in, the point is very clear. Very few people leave Vietnam during the war in the same state that they were when they had arrived. My first reaction to this story was an immediate conclusion that it was overly exaggerated by the story teller, and even though Mary Ann may have went through a large transformation, that transformation could not have been that large.
ReplyDeleteThe transformation in Mary Anne Bell was caused by the aftermath and crucial events of war. She grew up in a small town and was given the opportunity to do something greater than she typically does. She took the opportunity to travel and it changed her. She changed in different aspects, but for the better, and now she can never return to her old life. Rat Kiley’s telling of the story created additional tension. Vietnam was not a happy experience for anyone, especially the soldiers. The war scarred people and left them under its grasp. Once they got to Vietnam, there was absolutely no going back.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by O’Brien is expressing that there are crucial events in life that could damage ones self. We also experience these types of events in our lives. Changes such as moving cities, breaking up with your lover, and being dazed can leave people in a confused state of mind, and after that there is no going back to your original state. In Vietnam, dreams were crushed by the war. These dreams were no longer valid after the war; these dreams vanished like there wasn’t any to begin with.