Question

Read the following passage and explain how O’Briens’s repetition of the phrase “he would” connects to the way Paul Berlin is managing to deal with the war and Billy’s death. (4 points; 1 evidence sandwich)

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The passage resembles a person making New Year's Resolutions. We resolve that we will quit smoking. We resolve that we will be nicer to our little brother even though he is a class A Brat.

Paul Berlin is going to do things that are yet undone, but he is thinking about them. War is a terrible experience. Only a psychopath would come home after being in a war, throw up his hands and jubilantly dance around in a circle and joyfully proclaim,  "Man war is great. I wonder where there is another one? That was fun."

Paul is trying to figure out things to say and do that will at least make his experience in the war less fearful and painful. He's trying to guarantee his survival, and at the same time make what happened endurable. At bottom, he's trying to take his mind off whatever happened, and bring good where there was bad. Bring ease where there was pain. Bring understanding to what he has been told about war,  to replace the  hurt and pain that he feels .

He is trying to make his life more livable.