When I started reading about the trips that Marty and Stephen were taking together it showed me how strong their relationship was and the fun they had together. The fact that they could go to so many places together and not get sick of each other. You really got to know the real Stephen. The Stephen that Marty loved and loved spending time with. They had so much fun together, especially when Susy let down her hair and Stephen was pretending he had long, beautiful hair. After reading this, its hard to understand what had changed Stephen so drastically. The war definitely changed Stephen and the boys' relationship.
You never really get to understand exactly what happened in Vietnam that had changed Stephen so much. Whether it was a fellow marine who was killed or even if it was a innocent civilian that was killed. Unfortuneatly, whatever it may have been it was what had really ruined a lot in Stephen's life. He not only became very anxious and nervous but also his comical side was killed. They no longer had fun. Even when they took that last trip to the river, Marty mentions how they didn't laugh or even joke on the war there but Stephen did look more peaceful. This story was really sad in the essence of how Stephen really did actually "die" after the war. He was alive but dead inside. At the river, even though, he felt peaceful on the ride he never really felt alive. Although, before he jumped into the river, he became "alive." His brother kind of woke him up from where he was and he turned back into himself.
Sorry I forgot to put my name at the bottom of this post. (Kelcey Summers, 2)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading of the ending of the story. It seems as though you are saying that though Stephan physically dies, in essence, he becomes himself again as the relationship between the brothers is restored at the story's end, though for only a brief moment.
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