Question: This is one of the only stories where the
reader does not know the ending in advance. Why might O’Brien want this story to
be particularly suspenseful?
Answer:
O’Brien
didn’t tell the reader the ending to “The Ghost Soldiers” in advance, because
he wanted the reader to doubt Tim. Tim becomes malicious and cruel during this
chapter as he seeks revenge against Jorgenson, a medic who almost cost Tim his
life due to a mistake and accidentally lost him his spot as a soldier in their
platoon. Although the whole situation was accidental and the medic apologizes,
Tim cannot let it go and becomes obsessive. The reader begins to worry about what
kind of man Tim is becoming as he recruits Azar, a soldier who has been rude
and awful throughout the entire novel, to assist him and messes with Jorgenson
with horrible, psychological mind games that makes Jorgenson think he is under
attack. In the end, Tim tries to stop Azar once he sees the effect it has on
Jorgenson and he apologizes. However, for a good part of the chapter, the
reader witnesses Tim’s behavior and has doubts about what kind of man he is.
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