Essay Draft Two
Essay Draft Two
The Character of Rico in "Village"
Lorry Luo
The Vietnam War broke out in 1961, and ended in 1971 as the US forces took a full scale retreat form the battle field. Most people who have experienced this brutal war must have a great many scenes and episodes to recall if they would like to. Many of the young men who were forced to be transformed into soldiers never knew what they were fighting for. However the policy of the war against Viet Cong later received more and more oppositions from the whole country.
Rico in the story “Village” by Estela Portillo Trambley is one of the young men who became soldiers and were sent to the front line unwillingly. Rico’s kind of soldier is featured sensitive thoughts with humanity, is definitely not the sort of machines only executes commands. Estela wrote the story in 1989 during the post-Vietnam era when 'Vietnam Syndrome' is still alive and thriving.
It is human nature to treasure life. And this is why Rico blocked the order of wiping the village off that night instead of executing it. Rico was incarcerated later after that while he felt he was totally free from inside. Obviously, in the anti-war film, ”Platoon”, Sergeant Elias and Sergeant Barnes really are the driving force behind. They both have nominally the same enemy, but it doesn't take long to realize that Elias is good, and Barnes is evil. It has the same situation in ”Village”. Finally, it could be realized that Rico is the one who played the role of the good while Sergeant Keever in the opposite played the evil one. [Facol Point]Estela sets up an issue of good vs. evil contradiction in her story, telling people that she is opposing the war and that soldiers like Rico is the man who should be honored for his humanity.
Rico is no soldier from the very beginning to the very ending, whatever in his own conscious or in his companies’ eyes on his platoon. Under the definition of “Soldier” from the website “www.zh.Wikipedia.Org”, a soldier should be featured as a fighting unit that takes the order as the first priority. In the story, Rico has already admitted himself that he is no soldier at all after the scout. Estela carefully used “transformed into a soldier” here, to imply that Rico just has soldier’s appearance, and indicate his betrayal which happened later. Hours later, this nature was confirmed by Rico’s companies. While scolding Rico, Harry said that Rico was “no soldier” again and again, presenting the view of soldiers. However, Rico didn’t care about weather he was a soldier or not, the only thing that mattered to him was that the village was rescued and life were rescued. The betrayal was just out of his humanity, which replaced of executing orders as a standard soldier.
Rico is a very sensitive people. He thought frequently about the surroundings related to his hometown, comparing the village here to his own. “The village of Mai Cao was no different than Valverde, the barrio where he had grown up”, with “the same scent”, “the same warmth”, ”the same mother” and so on. All of these were so apparent to this young private who is so sentimental to the whole. The similarity and the sensitivity combined, which surely make Rico’s humanity inside his heart overwhelming. People say that war is cold and brutal. Nevertheless, Rico’s thoughts of humanity just warmed the story up, indicating that the power of humanity was irresistible.
Rico has a sort of universal affection for the benifits of every human being. In his point of view, which all the villages here and his own in the US just have the same nature, and all the people in the village are just whom he could encounter back home, for “Every human life in the village mattered.” Further more, this affection came out from his heart, his instinct, and most important his nature with humanity. Rico’s determination and courage to stop Keever giving the signal counted on his belief in his heart, for “this is not only with the mind but with the heart.” It was the power of faith which relied on humanity.
Rico took nothing into consideration for himself but only for the rest of people. People would say that Rico finally got relief after all and he felt free in mind while all of his business were left to his companies, making them suffer from the so-called Vietnam Syndromes. However, before his shooting at the signal arm, Rico has suggested Keever to evacuate the villagers three times. Unfortunately, not a time was responded. As a result, many people would’ve passed away without Rico’s block. And consequently, the one who shoot would get the Vietnam Syndromes after the war’s ending. It was also his humanity pushing him doing these.
Rico has no resistance, no regret, and no sophistication after his capture. He just holds his belief sitting there, only supported by his nature of humanity. He had tears shed though but nobody there can figure out the tears were out of relief, not the pain, not the fearfulness, not even his being restricted of physical freedom as he said to Harry, “I’m free inside, Harry.” That Rico’s deed was right or wrong had two sides which could never be reached an agreement in the eyes of standard soldiers and in the eyes of anybody who has a strong consciousness of humanity.
For all those reasons the above, Rico should be honored as a great warrior with the most powerful weapon ever, the humanity, to warm the world in the Cold War Era. What was waiting for him, without question, would be a trial in the military court. According to Rico’s feedbacks towards the people around him, it is convincible that Rico would not submit his heart to laws. And he knew something quite clearly that if the Judgment Day came he would stand at the first line to be sentenced for he has a strong heart with humanity. He should believe that weather being in prison or doing social labor work the punishment would be was not a judgment but a sentence. Rico must be honored for his great humanity. This story is plain but deep, entertaining but also oppressive. And it is educative by expressing the significance of humanity in the war.
The Character of Rico in "Village"
Lorry Luo
The Vietnam War broke out in 1961, and ended in 1971 as the US forces took a full scale retreat form the battle field. Most people who have experienced this brutal war must have a great many scenes and episodes to recall if they would like to. Many of the young men who were forced to be transformed into soldiers never knew what they were fighting for. However the policy of the war against Viet Cong later received more and more oppositions from the whole country.
Rico in the story “Village” by Estela Portillo Trambley is one of the young men who became soldiers and were sent to the front line unwillingly. Rico’s kind of soldier is featured sensitive thoughts with humanity, is definitely not the sort of machines only executes commands. Estela wrote the story in 1989 during the post-Vietnam era when 'Vietnam Syndrome' is still alive and thriving.
It is human nature to treasure life. And this is why Rico blocked the order of wiping the village off that night instead of executing it. Rico was incarcerated later after that while he felt he was totally free from inside. Obviously, in the anti-war film, ”Platoon”, Sergeant Elias and Sergeant Barnes really are the driving force behind. They both have nominally the same enemy, but it doesn't take long to realize that Elias is good, and Barnes is evil. It has the same situation in ”Village”. Finally, it could be realized that Rico is the one who played the role of the good while Sergeant Keever in the opposite played the evil one. [Facol Point]Estela sets up an issue of good vs. evil contradiction in her story, telling people that she is opposing the war and that soldiers like Rico is the man who should be honored for his humanity.
Rico is no soldier from the very beginning to the very ending, whatever in his own conscious or in his companies’ eyes on his platoon. Under the definition of “Soldier” from the website “www.zh.Wikipedia.Org”, a soldier should be featured as a fighting unit that takes the order as the first priority. In the story, Rico has already admitted himself that he is no soldier at all after the scout. Estela carefully used “transformed into a soldier” here, to imply that Rico just has soldier’s appearance, and indicate his betrayal which happened later. Hours later, this nature was confirmed by Rico’s companies. While scolding Rico, Harry said that Rico was “no soldier” again and again, presenting the view of soldiers. However, Rico didn’t care about weather he was a soldier or not, the only thing that mattered to him was that the village was rescued and life were rescued. The betrayal was just out of his humanity, which replaced of executing orders as a standard soldier.
Rico is a very sensitive people. He thought frequently about the surroundings related to his hometown, comparing the village here to his own. “The village of Mai Cao was no different than Valverde, the barrio where he had grown up”, with “the same scent”, “the same warmth”, ”the same mother” and so on. All of these were so apparent to this young private who is so sentimental to the whole. The similarity and the sensitivity combined, which surely make Rico’s humanity inside his heart overwhelming. People say that war is cold and brutal. Nevertheless, Rico’s thoughts of humanity just warmed the story up, indicating that the power of humanity was irresistible.
Rico has a sort of universal affection for the benifits of every human being. In his point of view, which all the villages here and his own in the US just have the same nature, and all the people in the village are just whom he could encounter back home, for “Every human life in the village mattered.” Further more, this affection came out from his heart, his instinct, and most important his nature with humanity. Rico’s determination and courage to stop Keever giving the signal counted on his belief in his heart, for “this is not only with the mind but with the heart.” It was the power of faith which relied on humanity.
Rico took nothing into consideration for himself but only for the rest of people. People would say that Rico finally got relief after all and he felt free in mind while all of his business were left to his companies, making them suffer from the so-called Vietnam Syndromes. However, before his shooting at the signal arm, Rico has suggested Keever to evacuate the villagers three times. Unfortunately, not a time was responded. As a result, many people would’ve passed away without Rico’s block. And consequently, the one who shoot would get the Vietnam Syndromes after the war’s ending. It was also his humanity pushing him doing these.
Rico has no resistance, no regret, and no sophistication after his capture. He just holds his belief sitting there, only supported by his nature of humanity. He had tears shed though but nobody there can figure out the tears were out of relief, not the pain, not the fearfulness, not even his being restricted of physical freedom as he said to Harry, “I’m free inside, Harry.” That Rico’s deed was right or wrong had two sides which could never be reached an agreement in the eyes of standard soldiers and in the eyes of anybody who has a strong consciousness of humanity.
For all those reasons the above, Rico should be honored as a great warrior with the most powerful weapon ever, the humanity, to warm the world in the Cold War Era. What was waiting for him, without question, would be a trial in the military court. According to Rico’s feedbacks towards the people around him, it is convincible that Rico would not submit his heart to laws. And he knew something quite clearly that if the Judgment Day came he would stand at the first line to be sentenced for he has a strong heart with humanity. He should believe that weather being in prison or doing social labor work the punishment would be was not a judgment but a sentence. Rico must be honored for his great humanity. This story is plain but deep, entertaining but also oppressive. And it is educative by expressing the significance of humanity in the war.
posted by Lorry at
12:01 PM
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