Themes of Oppression and War

Touching Bottom by Kari Strutt is a short story that represents feminist criticism and deals with economic, social, political and psychological oppression of women. Through that medium many symbols are represented, first being water. There are four types of water that is represented through the characters: murky, pool, ocean and again the pool. Water is one of the key objects that help in escalating the story and building the main character (Markus). The murky water showed that when the main character’s father sent her to the summer camp, it is seen that she loves to swim with the other girls. However when one of the girls of the camp gets a leech stuck in her body, she is afraid to swim there. She develops the idea that there are animals or objects that can harm her. The leeches in the story represent the society and that is why she avoids the murky water (Cicourel). The pool water reflects the idea of confinement that she was not able to escape. Though she is safe while she in the pool, but she remains limited and bound. The ocean water shows that when she visits with her stepson and her husband, she feels uncomfortable. Despite the fact the ocean is large and free, she is pushed away by the strong current of the ocean. Finally she returns back to her confinement which is the pool water. The four types of water are contrasted to society as no matter what she did in her life, she was not accepted as she is.

A Marker on the Side of The Boat by Bao Ninh is a short story that is set in the Hanoi city during the time of the Vietnam War. The center characters include the main soldier who is the dynamic character and his daughter. After the battle of the soldiers asks for permission so that the can deliver letters to their loved ones. The theme reflects wars that brings sorrow and to the lives of many people (Bergerud). The center conflict for the characters is the theme of man vs. nature. The soldier left his home and his daughter who was hardly a year old. After a long time, he returns home for three days with his comrades. When he comes back he finds that his daughter has grown up and does not recognize him. She keeps his distance from him as he is a stranger to her which hurts the soldier a lot. One day when his daughter behaves rudely with him, he loses control and hits her that makes him feel guilty. However when she finally identifies her father, he has to return to the military (Short). Before going back he promises her that one day he will buy her a comb. The solider makes the comb during his time in the battlefield from a piece of ivory. Unfortunately he meets his demise in the battlefield and tells one of his closest friends that to pass on the comb to her as his last wish. Many years later when the soldier finally meets the girl he parts the father’s gift to the daughter.  

References

Bergerud, Eric M. The Dynamics of Defeat: The Vietnam War in Hau Nghia Province. Routledge, 2018.

Cicourel, Aaron V. “The acquisition of social structure: Toward a developmental sociology of language and meaning.” Everyday Life. Routledge, 2017. 136-168.

Markus, Gyorgy. “A society of culture: The constitution of modernity.” Rethinking Imagination. Routledge, 2016. 15-29.

Short, Anthony. The origins of the Vietnam war. Routledge, 2014.