In this chapter, Leper is convinced that the army would be best for him. A recruiter from the U.S. ski troops showed up. He showed a video of the ski troops skiing down the mountain. They went fast and looked like true men, and to Leper, this was enough to make him enlist. Compared to the navy and army, this was much cleaner and seemed more interesting to Leper. First, let me describe Leper. He is a young man who does things on his own. He also likes to go were the wind takes him. For example, when he went skiing by himself on page 94, Gene asks him where he's going and Leper responds with "I'm not going anywhere." This just shows how Leper is a strange individual who does things on his own terms.
It is ironic that Leper was the first one to join because he is the opposite of what an American soldier is supposed to be. Back then and still today, soldiers are portrayed as loud, tough and people who take action. Leper is far from loud and during the Blitz ball game on page 38, Leper is standing outside the game watching instead of take action, or taking part in the game. When Leper saw the skiing video, he was amazed at how quick and fast the skiers were moving and that was the reason he joined the army. He's going in there thinking it's all about swift runs down the mountain. Perhaps he may have forgotten what William Sherman said which was "War is hell." I think Leper will soon realize that war is not all about skiing down a mountain at high speeds. I have to agree with Finny when he said, "If someone gave Leper a loaded gun and put it at Hitler's temple, he'd miss."
My questions for you are...
1.) Is Leper going to succeed in the army? Or, do you think he made his decision too quickly without thinking?
2.) Who do you think will be next to enlist? Which section of the army will they enlist in?
This moment in the book was very ironic and changed many peoples minds about war and what it ment to them including Finny and Gene. Personally, i do not think that Leper will succeed in the army. He is no ready for war because he is young and also because his personality just does not mesh well with violence. Since Leper did join, i think people will think that they need to follow. In my opinion, Brinker will be the next to enlist because Leper is making him look like he isn't tough and he wants to prove everybody wrong.
ReplyDeleteLeper enlisting in the army is as unpredictable as a six year old girl robbing a bank. Leper has always been out of the loop when it comes to fitting in with others. While all of the boys were Shoveling snow to clear a train track, Leper went for a ski run. It wasn't like his character though, to enlist in the army solely on his love for skiing. Leper's enlistment has a sense of irony that makes you ponder his character. He had good reason to enlist science he would have to anyway, but it shows another aspect about his character for being the first. Wil this choice cost him his life? Do you think he made a mistake?
ReplyDeleteAnswering your first question I think Leper will want to go home before he even goes over seas. He is a very timid person and in war soldiers must be strong,loud, and action taking as Sheldon mentioned and Leper definitely doesn't fit in any of these categories. He probably enlisted because he thought war was what he saw in that video, that war was just going to be going down fast slopes. Also I too agree with what Finny said that if Leper was given an open shot at Hitler he would probably miss. Do you think Leper will change and become a great soldier or will he just loose his life because of this decision.
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