Agree or Disagree?

I agree with the statement, “ . . . this too is true: stories can save us” (223). I personally feel that if something is a part of your life, and you tell the story over and over, it keeps the moment alive; if only in your own mind. These stories may not be therapy to help one forget, but rather by telling it helps one to cope.

“I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth” (179). O'Brien is trying to relay the message that happening-truth is real, but it is the story-truth of how the actions taken place affect the lives of those experiencing the moment. To say there was gunfire all around me is happening-truth. To say for instance, from less than 200 meters away the sound of the gunfire was deafening, and this noise was a distraction all I wanted to do was make the right move without getting killed. That second statement was more about emotions, and was also true quoted by my cousin currently deployed over in Afghanistan. This was his quote on Facebook and it totally wrecked my soul. My first thought was pray for him!

In "The Lives of The Dead", O'Brien includes this story to show how important the intimate relationship between life and death is. This story poses a broader perspective than just a story about war. These stories were about remembering, and remembering keeps the dead alive.

Linda was O'Brien first love. He was in the fourth grade, and Linda was his love. Linda had a brain tumor and died. O'Brien had a hard time dealing with her untimely death. He was afraid to sleep, and often dreamed of Linda. These dreams kept her close to him and kept her alive in his mind. This was important for O'Brien as an adult. When asked by Kiowa if this was the first time he has seen a dead person, O'Brien says no. Linda was his first experience. Linda was different from the death he experienced in Vietnam. Linda was innocent and never asked for any danger unlike the war did for Lemon, Lavender, and the others. His experience in losing Linda helped him to cope by telling stories. These stories get him through life to keep the dead alive.