How to Tell a War Story with PTSD

Throughout Tim O'Briens How to Tell a True War Story, he discuss how he formed different relationships with critical characters in the story and the relationship others had made. Obrien stresses the importance of relationships within the story to build an emotional interest towards the characters. During the story Tim Obrien highlights emotional tragedies mainly so that when something traumatic occurs the reader is emotional invested. Throughout the story Obrien uses repetition to draw attention to how these traumatic events have creating a lasting emotional impact for himself; repetition highlights side potential side effects of PSTD. By describing PTSD victims' suffering, the reader has the opportunity to realize that PTSD is a serious affliction and "experience" it themselves. A critical example of the traumatic events that can offer trigger PSTD is where Rat's best friend, Lemon, steps on a land mine, resulting in his gruesome demise. Lemons' death completely changes Rat and he has lasting emotional changes that impact the character throughout the story. Obrien states "The gore was horrible, and stays with me, but what wakes me up twenty years later is Norman Bowker singing "Lemon Tree" as we threw down the (body) parts (8)".His vivid description of Lemons death shows Obrien's attempt to demonstrate that the character experiences PTSD following the trauma. An emotional connection to the characters and their feelings makes for a more engaging reading experience, especially when pertaining to war fare. PTSD, its symptoms, causes and effects are explored in Tim Obrien's How to Tell a War Story.