In Fly Away Peter, David Malouf presents both physical and mental suffering by describing the experiences of Eric and Jim, highlighting both the acute and chronic suffering that the soldiers experienced as a result war. It is immediately clear that Eric has been psychically injured due to the war, as he is unable to walk: this is the suffering to be expected, due to the violence and danger of the battlefield. However, since his physical suffering has taken away his independence, his wound is also symbolic as he can no longer act as autonomously as before. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Eric's lack of independence and ability to take care of himself stands in stark contrast to the patriotic and quaint idea of war signed by many young people ready - expecting the outcome to be medals and honors, not disabilities and having to be "helped into a chair". It is also implied that Eric is suffering mentally in the way that he appears to have a nervous disposition, implying that he has shell-shock, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The "thin line of sweat" that "drips down the boy's upper lip" shows his constant state of anxiety, with the use of the word "boy" reminiscent of the young age of some soldiers killed or wounded during the First World War. . This image in fact connects to the poem "Conscious" by Wilfred Owen, which addresses the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder but also the distance that the soldier feels from home, even after returning, due to the images of war that cannot to shake. Although Eric is physically away from the battle, his finding is still there and will always be there as he will not be able to wake up without seeing the horrors that have occurred on his body. However, his suffering is more prevalent in how we are informed that despite everything, Eric's main fear is of being forgotten, as demonstrated by the line "What scared him was that people might just walk away and forget him altogether" . Physically he can't walk to follow anyone, but symbolically he can't keep up with everyone else either. Their lives are destined to continue after the war, but he will remain in the same place forever, unable to progress as he could have before he was injured; He will always be trapped in the perpetual suffering of war. Eric is afraid of becoming nameless, just another wounded soldier, the same way so many were just names on a memorial, and of being forgotten. The repetition of "Wilya come Again, Jim", shows his desperation to not be left alone, relying on his friend's loyalty to ensure he is not forgotten. This is why it is particularly upsetting that Jim takes the form of his fear in the way he promises to come back to see him, "but guiltily knew he wouldn't," Eric's voice calling out to him is "grieved", making Jim feel guilty for leaving his friend behind, his personal anguish preventing him from keeping his promise, while physically turning and walking away symbolizes that he is forced to turn his back on Eric. The brotherhood between the two has been broken, due to the pain they both feel preventing them from seeing each other anymore. Malouf then focuses on the contrast between youth and old age to underline the suffering that both Eric and Jim feel. submitted in the extract. Like many of the men who symbolically had to grow up too quickly to go to war, due to his physical impairment, Eric suffers from it to an even greater extent. This is demonstrated by the way Jim hears his voice as a “child, and then, with,.
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