The Man at the Well Essay Example for Free

The composition at the Well EssaySome say its not what we do exactly what we dont do that jackpot truly define who we are. In the tenth chapter, The Man at the Well, from Tim OBriens memoir, If I erupt in a Combat Zone, OBrien manages to portray one of the near powerful messages throughout his entire journey. Its about American ignorance, the inability to athletic supporter those in need, the true meaning of humanity and whether we, as a population, are capable to break down(p) barriers and fence ins that we, ourselves, suck in constructed. A blustery and jerky soldier, nordic hair and big belly, picked up a carton of milk and from fifteen feet away hurled it, for no reason, aiming at the old man and striking him flush in the face. The carton burst. Milk sprayed into the old mans cataracts. He hunched foreword, rocking precariously and searching for his balance. He dropped his bucket. His hands went to his eyes then dropped loosely to his thighs. His art gaze was fixe d straight ahead, at the stupid soldiers feet (Page 100).OBriens language its purposefully proposed and constructed to paint one of the most vivid images in the whole memoir. He creates a scene which the readers innovative mind engulfs and produces it into one of the most captivating and heart wrench pictures easily shown like a movie in our own heads. His undeniable choice of descriptive words cant help but have the effect of a film-like image flowing through the readers imagination. OBrien uses this carefully disguised writing technique to ultimately grasp the police wagon of his followers and use their sacrificing vulnerability to engrave a philosophical idea in their minds such as humanitys opinion of counterbalance and wrong.The Man at the Well produces a foundation of shame and disbelief to think that a human being, an American soldier who is looked up to by children, Vietnamese and American, can fabricate such a hurtful scene. The audacity to even act out the horror and h ate is appalling to any reader it makes he or she question the motives of several American soldiers and whether or not their morals are politically correct. It is a fine line between what is right and wrong at that place is little gray in a situation such as this. Its clear the anecdote was an act of hatred. There was no question to whether the ignorance of the stupid soldier was right it was far past right. However why then, did no one do or say anything? Instead an audience watched as a man, a blind and elderly man, who voluntarily was helping them, suffered from one mans intolerable actions.People are afraid and that fear creates a boundary. It changes flocks beliefs and ideas one thought always to be right and those ideas could change in an instance with the doubt fear carries. People come to a village in their lives where what they once thought their morals were, what they once thought they would stand up for is no longer because fear created a wall a wall that is unbear able to take down. It is a wall built in front of different people however sharing a common superstar of right and wrong. These people cannot see past their own selfish fear to solve a crisis outside of themselves. If just a few attempted to demolish this speculative roadblock the outcome could be greatly beneficial, however, its impossible to achieve unless people step outside of themselves and into a world they desire.The chapter argues ones sense of humanity and the pressure that people feel and sometimes are burdened by. However, OBrien places himself, as an author, in a position which he attempts to break down the wall. He asks you, What is and what is not right? What are you going to do? Stand there and watch? Or are you going to do something about it? I found the section powerful, moving and inspirational, and even more so if those who did answer his underlying questions, answered with an optimistic, yes we can do this point of view.