Question 11

I agree that the chapter "spin" can be symbolic of the soldiers "spinning mind" through out the war, but I took it differently. I thought that "Spin" meant another view of the war because in this chapter, the soldiers are described by giving chocolate to children, and sitting under trees. This was a "spin" of point of view, and emphasized that war is not all bad, and can be somewhat peaceful.

In my opinion, Spin was an opposing viewpoint to the war, showing a different side that is not commonly seen. As O' Brien states in the opening paragraph, "The war wasnt all terror and violence. Sometimes things could almost get sweet." This is dimonstrated when Azar gave a chocolate bar to a vietnamese boy with a prostetic leg, showing that amist the violence and terror of the war, there was still love and compassion. Also after being led safely through mine fields for five days by their pappa-san, the soldiers grew close with him and showed a great appreciation for his help. These examples give a more humane feeling to the the war and contrast with the violence and profanity.

I agree that the chapter Spin, in the context of the chapter as a whole, was largely reminiscient of a stream of conscious type narrative, with O' Brien's mind "spinning" with all the stories the war produced. But, I alo think that this chapter was a way to put a new "spin" on the war, one o falmost happiness and light-heartedness, sch as when the platoon gave the children food, and the scene underneath the tree.