Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Variable
- Mood
- Surreal, Reflective, Haunting, Melancholy, Psychological
- Read it if
- You want a unique, introspective, and surreal exploration of the psychological toll of war, blending reality and fantasy.
- Skip it if
- You prefer straightforward narratives, strictly realistic war stories, or are put off by ambiguity and a dreamlike structure.
Going After Cacciato Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Desertion of Cacciato
The novel opens after Private First Class Cacciato's desertion from Alpha Company in Vietnam. He simply walks away from his foxhole one evening, heading west towards the South China Sea, declaring his intention to walk to Paris. The remaining soldiers, including the protagonist Paul Berlin, are left to process this bewildering act. Lieutenant Corson, the company's commanding officer, is initially reluctant to pursue Cacciato, fearing the implications. However, under pressure from higher command, a small contingent is formed to track Cacciato. This initial event sets the stage for the novel's blend of reality and Paul Berlin's elaborate imaginative escape.
Paul Berlin's Vigil and Fantasies
As the company establishes a night watch, Paul Berlin is assigned a long, solitary shift in a listening post overlooking a moonlit field. This becomes the primary setting for his vivid, extended fantasy. While physically in Vietnam, observing the real landscape and the sleeping soldiers, Berlin mentally embarks on a journey with Cacciato and his pursuers. He imagines the arduous trek from Vietnam through various Asian countries, across the Middle East, and into Europe. His internal narrative interweaves the grim realities of his past combat experiences with the hopeful, sometimes absurd, details of the imagined pursuit, creating a complex psychological landscape.
The Reality of Pursuit: The Tunnel
The real-world pursuit of Cacciato begins with the company tracking him to a suspected Viet Cong tunnel system. The soldiers, including Paul Berlin, enter the dark, claustrophobic tunnels, a common and terrifying experience for American troops in Vietnam. The fear of ambush, booby traps, and the unknown enemy in the confined spaces is palpable. This section grounds the narrative in the brutal realities of the war, contrasting sharply with Berlin's burgeoning fantasies. The experience inside the tunnel is a moment of intense, shared dread and a stark reminder of the ever-present danger.
The Imagined Journey: Laos and the Elephant
In Paul Berlin's imagined journey, the group, now including the pursuing soldiers, traverses Laos. This leg of the journey includes a surreal encounter with a giant, ancient elephant. The elephant, a symbol of the exotic and the unknown, represents the vast cultural and geographical distance they are covering. The group struggles to navigate the dense jungle and the unfamiliar terrain, highlighting the absurdity and the sheer scale of Cacciato's ambition. This episode further blurs the line between the plausible and the fantastic, characteristic of Berlin's mental escape.
The Past: The Death of Billy Boy Watkins
Interspersed with both the real pursuit and the imagined journey are Paul Berlin's vivid flashbacks to past combat incidents. One of the most significant is the death of Billy Boy Watkins. Billy Boy dies not from a bullet or a booby trap, but from a heart attack induced by sheer terror after stepping on a mine that fails to detonate. This incident deeply affects Berlin, revealing the psychological toll of war and the arbitrary nature of death. It highlights the theme of fear and the non-traditional ways soldiers suffer and die in Vietnam.
The Imagined Journey: The Mountains of Iran
Paul Berlin's imaginary trek continues, leading the group through the desolate, snow-capped mountains of Iran. This segment emphasizes the physical endurance and will required for such a journey, even if only in the mind. The stark, cold landscape contrasts with the humid jungles of Vietnam, highlighting the vastness of Cacciato's ambition. The group faces severe weather and the threat of frostbite, illustrating the universal challenges of a long, overland journey, regardless of the specific location.
The Reality of Pursuit: The Village and the Old Man
Back in the harsh reality of Vietnam, the company's pursuit of Cacciato leads them to a small, war-torn village. Here, they encounter an old Vietnamese man who seems to know Cacciato's direction. The interaction is fraught with suspicion and miscommunication, reflecting the broader tensions between American soldiers and the local populace. The old man's cryptic responses and the soldiers' frustration highlight the cultural divide and the difficulty of gathering intelligence in a foreign land. This scene grounds the narrative in the complex ethical landscape of the war.
The Imagined Journey: The Peace Delegation in India
In Paul Berlin's imagination, the journey takes a political turn in India, where the group encounters a large peace delegation. This encounter forces the soldiers to confront the moral complexities of their mission and the war itself. Some members of the group, like Oscar Johnson, are drawn to the idea of peace and question the pursuit of Cacciato. The scene reflects the anti-war sentiment prevalent during the Vietnam era and Berlin's own internal struggles with his role as a soldier. It introduces a moral dimension to the fantastical journey.
The Past: The Death of Lieutenant Corson's Nephew
Another flashback details the death of Lieutenant Corson's nephew, Bernie, during a patrol. Bernie's death deeply affects Corson, leading to his emotional breakdown and temporary incapacitation. This event forces Paul Berlin and others to take on leadership roles, illustrating the rapid maturation and loss of innocence demanded by combat. Corson's grief and subsequent withdrawal highlight the personal costs of the war, not just for the enlisted men but for their leaders as well.
The Imagined Journey: Tehran and the Hotel
The imaginary journey brings the group to a luxurious hotel in Tehran, a stark contrast to their previous hardships. Here, they briefly enjoy comforts, but the pursuit of Cacciato remains. The moral dilemma intensifies as they consider whether to continue their mission or abandon it. This moment of pause allows for reflection on the purpose of their quest and the nature of Cacciato's desertion. It's a test of their commitment and an exploration of the meaning of duty versus personal freedom.
The Reality of Pursuit: The Decision to End It
Back in Vietnam, the actual pursuit of Cacciato reaches a pragmatic conclusion. After days of fruitless searching and the inherent dangers, Lieutenant Corson makes the difficult decision to call off the physical pursuit. The company reports Cacciato as missing in action, a common practice to avoid the stigma and paperwork of desertion. This moment signifies the failure of the military system to contain Cacciato's act of rebellion and the futility of chasing an ideal. It marks a return to the grim, everyday reality of the war for the remaining soldiers.
The Imagined Journey: Paris and the Final Confrontation
Paul Berlin's elaborate fantasy culminates in Paris, the ultimate destination. The group finally catches up to Cacciato, who is living a peaceful life in the city. The confrontation is not violent but philosophical, as they debate the meaning of his desertion and their pursuit. Cacciato defends his choice for peace and freedom, while the soldiers grapple with their duty. This final imagined encounter forces Berlin to confront the opposing forces of escape and responsibility, offering a resolution within his mind, even if not in reality.
The Past: The Death of Buff and the River
Another flashback involves the death of Buff, a soldier who drowns in a river during a patrol. The circumstances surrounding his death are ambiguous, raising questions about negligence and the psychological toll that led to it. This memory further highlights the arbitrary and often absurd nature of death in Vietnam, where even simple actions can lead to tragedy. It adds another layer to Berlin's contemplation of morality and responsibility in a war zone.
The Imagined Journey: The Bridge of Sighs
In Paris, the imagined group stands on the Bridge of Sighs, a symbolic location for reflection and contemplation. They look back on their incredible journey, acknowledging its absurdity and its impact on them. This moment is a metaphor for Paul Berlin's own internal processing of the war. It's a chance to reconcile the horrors he has witnessed with the yearning for escape and peace, and to find meaning in both the real and the imagined experiences. The journey, though fantastical, has been a form of psychological survival.
Dawn and the Lingering Questions
As dawn breaks, Paul Berlin's long night watch comes to an end. The real world reasserts itself, and the soldiers stir. Cacciato is still gone, officially listed as MIA. Berlin is left with the lingering thoughts and feelings from his night-long fantasy. The novel concludes with the understanding that while the physical pursuit ended, Cacciato's desertion and the questions it raised about duty, courage, fear, and escape continue to resonate within Paul Berlin. The imaginative journey has provided a coping mechanism and a way to explore the deeper truths of his experience in Vietnam.
Going After Cacciato Characters
Paul Berlin
Protagonist
A young, fearful soldier who escapes the horrors of war through fantasy.
Paul Berlin is a private in Alpha Company, serving in Vietnam. He is deeply introspective and highly imaginative, using his mind as a refuge from the brutal realities of combat. He is plagued by fear and guilt, particularly over past events where he failed to act heroically or witnessed tragic deaths. His primary coping mechanism is to construct an elaborate, fantastical journey to Paris in his mind, pursuing the deserter Cacciato. This mental escape allows him to process trauma, explore moral dilemmas, and search for meaning in the chaos of war.
Relationships: Cacciato (Pursuer (in fantasy), symbol of escape); Lieutenant Corson (Subordinate, observer of Corson's breakdown); Oscar Johnson (Fellow soldier, often skeptical of Berlin's ideas); Sarkin Aung Wan (Imagined love interest, guide, symbol of hope)
Cacciato
Catalyst/Symbol
A naive, seemingly innocent soldier who deserts, sparking the novel's central conflict.
Private First Class Cacciato is a young, seemingly unremarkable soldier whose sudden and inexplicable desertion drives the entire narrative. He simply walks away from his post, declaring his intention to walk to Paris. Cacciato embodies the ultimate act of escape from the war. He is portrayed as somewhat childlike and innocent, almost a blank slate onto which others project their desires and fears. He represents the yearning for peace, freedom, and a return to normalcy that every soldier secretly harbors. His journey, whether real or imagined, is a quest for an alternative to the violence and despair of Vietnam.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (The object of Berlin's pursuit and fantasy); Alpha Company (Fellow soldiers whom he abandons)
Lieutenant Sidney Martin Corson
Supporting
The company's commanding officer, burdened by responsibility and grief.
Lieutenant Corson is the commanding officer of Alpha Company. He is a capable but deeply weary and emotionally fragile leader, whose composure is shattered by the death of his nephew, Bernie. He represents the toll the war takes on leadership, struggling with his duties while battling immense personal grief and a growing sense of futility. His initial reluctance to pursue Cacciato and his eventual decision to declare him MIA highlight the complexities of command and the moral compromises made in wartime. He is a pragmatic figure, grounded in the harsh realities of the conflict.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Commanding officer); Bernie (Nephew, whose death devastates him)
Oscar Johnson
Supporting
A pragmatic and often cynical soldier who questions the pursuit of Cacciato.
Oscar Johnson is a member of Alpha Company and one of the soldiers involved in the pursuit of Cacciato (both real and imagined). He is often portrayed as pragmatic, cynical, and vocal in his skepticism about the mission and the war itself. Johnson frequently voices the frustrations and doubts that many soldiers feel, acting as a foil to Berlin's more imaginative tendencies. He represents the grounded, often bitter reality of the fighting man, but also possesses a hidden yearning for peace and justice, which surfaces during the imagined journey.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Fellow soldier, often debates with Berlin); Cacciato (Pursuer, but questions the motive)
Sarkin Aung Wan
Supporting/Imagined
A young Vietnamese woman who becomes Paul Berlin's guide and love interest in his fantasy.
Sarkin Aung Wan is a young Vietnamese woman who appears in Paul Berlin's imagined journey. She acts as a guide, interpreter, and eventually a love interest for Berlin. She represents hope, connection, and a different perspective on the war and the world beyond it. Her presence in the fantasy provides Berlin with a sense of purpose and companionship, contrasting with the isolation and violence of his real war experience. She embodies the possibility of a future beyond the conflict, offering solace and a sense of shared humanity.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Imagined guide, love interest, and confidante)
Doc Peret
Supporting
The company medic, a calm and compassionate presence.
Doc Peret is the medic for Alpha Company. He is a quiet, compassionate figure who tends to the wounded and provides a sense of stability amidst the chaos. He represents the healing aspect in a destructive environment, often acting as a confidante for the other soldiers. Doc Peret's presence underscores the constant threat of injury and death, but also the enduring human capacity for care and empathy. His role is to mend, both physically and sometimes emotionally, offering a brief respite from the war's brutality.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Fellow soldier, source of medical aid and comfort); Alpha Company (Medic, caregiver)
Billy Boy Watkins
Mentioned/Flashback
A soldier whose death by fear-induced heart attack deeply traumatizes Paul Berlin.
Billy Boy Watkins is a soldier whose death is recounted in a vivid flashback. He dies not from direct combat but from a heart attack brought on by extreme terror after stepping on a landmine that fails to detonate. His death is a profound trauma for Paul Berlin and highlights the psychological, rather than purely physical, dangers of the war. Billy Boy symbolizes the arbitrary and absurd nature of death in Vietnam, and the immense, crippling fear that permeates every moment for the soldiers. His memory haunts Berlin, contributing to his guilt and need for escape.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Fellow soldier, witness to his death)
Buff
Mentioned/Flashback
A soldier who drowns, another tragic and ambiguous death.
Buff is another soldier whose death is recalled in a flashback, drowning in a river under unclear circumstances. Like Billy Boy Watkins, Buff's death is not directly from enemy fire but from the treacherous environment and perhaps a momentary lapse or psychological burden. His drowning further emphasizes the unpredictable and often senseless ways soldiers perish in Vietnam, contributing to Paul Berlin's sense of helplessness and the moral ambiguities of the war. Buff's memory adds to Berlin's cumulative trauma.
Relationships: Paul Berlin (Fellow soldier, witness to his death)
Going After Cacciato Themes
The Power of Imagination as Escape
The novel's central theme explores how imagination is a coping mechanism against the brutal realities of war. Paul Berlin, while physically trapped in a foxhole, mentally constructs an elaborate, continent-spanning journey to Paris. This fantasy allows him to process trauma, escape fear, and seek meaning beyond the senseless violence. It shows the human spirit's ability to create alternatives, even when confronted with despair. The imagined journey is as real and impactful for Berlin as the physical war, providing a psychological refuge from the horrors of Vietnam, as seen in the detailed descriptions of the journey through Laos or Iran.
“It was a way of going after Cacciato, not in the real world, but in the mind. A way of making the world behave.”
The Nature of Courage and Fear
O'Brien examines the complex interplay between courage and fear, often showing them as inseparable. Paul Berlin constantly battles his own fear, and many flashbacks detail moments where fear leads to paralysis or tragic outcomes, such as Billy Boy Watkins' death by heart attack. Conversely, courage is not always heroic action. Sometimes it is the simple act of enduring or finding a way to survive, whether physically or psychologically. Cacciato's desertion, while an act of defiance, also requires a unique form of courage—the courage to abandon duty for a personal ideal. The novel suggests that true courage is not the absence of fear, but how one confronts and navigates it.
“Courage, he now knew, was not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in its presence.”
The Absurdity and Futility of War
The novel portrays the Vietnam War as an absurd and often senseless undertaking. From Cacciato's seemingly random desertion to the arbitrary deaths of soldiers like Billy Boy Watkins and Buff, the narrative highlights the lack of logic and purpose. The pursuit of Cacciato, both real and imagined, highlights the futility of military objectives when faced with individual desires for peace and freedom. The bureaucratic reporting of Cacciato as MIA, rather than a deserter, illustrates the system's attempts to impose order on chaos, even through deceit. The war's aimlessness is a constant undercurrent, driving the characters' despair and longing for escape.
“It was a war that made no sense, a war without borders or objectives, a war of random death and random survival.”
Duty vs. Freedom
A core conflict in the novel is the tension between military duty and individual freedom. Cacciato's desertion is the ultimate act of choosing personal freedom over military obligation, challenging the foundation of soldiering. The soldiers pursuing him, particularly Paul Berlin, are forced to confront this choice, both in their physical pursuit and in their mental grappling with Cacciato's motives. The imagined journey to Paris, a city synonymous with freedom and romance, symbolizes the yearning for an escape from the constraints of duty. The novel questions whether true freedom is attainable in such a restrictive and violent environment, and at what cost it comes.
“Some things are worth dying for, he thought. But some things are worth living for.”
The Nature of Reality and Truth
O'Brien blurs the lines between reality and imagination, suggesting that subjective truth can be as potent as objective fact. Paul Berlin's fantasies are so vivid and detailed that they become a parallel reality, a way for him to construct a narrative that makes sense of his experiences. The novel challenges the reader to question what is 'real' and what is 'true' in a war where conventional truths often break down. The imaginative journey is not merely escapism but a form of psychological truth-telling, revealing deeper emotional and moral realities that physical events alone cannot convey. This is evident in how Berlin's internal journey shapes his understanding of the external war.
“Story truth is truer sometimes than happening truth.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Frame Narrative / Nested Narratives
The story of Cacciato's pursuit is framed by Paul Berlin's night watch, containing flashbacks and fantasies.
The novel employs a complex narrative structure where the immediate 'present' of Paul Berlin's night watch in a listening post serves as a frame. Within this frame, two primary narratives unfold: the 'real' pursuit of Cacciato by Alpha Company in Vietnam, and Paul Berlin's elaborate, imagined journey with Cacciato to Paris. Interspersed throughout these are numerous flashbacks to past combat incidents. This layering of narratives allows O'Brien to explore different dimensions of the war experience—the immediate reality, the psychological escape, and the lingering trauma—all simultaneously, creating a rich, multi-faceted perspective on memory and coping.
Magical Realism
Fantastical elements are interwoven with realistic details of war, blurring reality.
O'Brien utilizes magical realism by seamlessly integrating fantastical elements into the otherwise gritty and realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War. Paul Berlin's imagined journey to Paris, complete with encounters with giant elephants, miraculous border crossings, and a love interest who appears out of nowhere, is presented with the same detailed conviction as the descriptions of tunnels or firefights. This device serves to highlight the surreal nature of war itself and the psychological state of soldiers. The fantastical elements are not mere diversions but are crucial to Berlin's processing of trauma and his search for meaning, making the unbelievable feel profoundly true on an emotional level.
Flashbacks
Past traumatic events are recalled vividly, explaining Paul Berlin's psychological state.
Flashbacks are a crucial device used to reveal Paul Berlin's past experiences in Vietnam and the psychological burdens he carries. These detailed recollections, such as the deaths of Billy Boy Watkins or Lieutenant Corson's nephew, are not presented chronologically but emerge organically from Berlin's thoughts and fears. They provide context for his present anxiety and his need for imaginative escape. The flashbacks serve to ground the fantastical elements in a harsh reality, showing the deep scars left by combat and explaining the motivations behind Berlin's elaborate mental journey, emphasizing the cumulative trauma of war.
Symbolism
Objects, places, and characters represent abstract ideas like escape, hope, and war's futility.
The novel is rich in symbolism. Cacciato himself symbolizes escape, freedom, and the yearning for peace. Paris represents the ultimate destination of escape and a return to normalcy and civilization, a stark contrast to the jungles of Vietnam. The tunnel systems symbolize the claustrophobia and unseen dangers of the war. Sarkin Aung Wan symbolizes hope, connection, and a future beyond the conflict. Even the giant elephant in Laos can be seen as representing the exotic, overwhelming, and sometimes absurd nature of the journey. These symbols enrich the narrative, allowing O'Brien to explore complex themes without explicit exposition.
Stream of Consciousness
The narrative often reflects Paul Berlin's unfiltered thoughts and perceptions.
The novel frequently employs stream of consciousness, particularly during Paul Berlin's long night watch. The narrative flows freely from present observations to past memories to elaborate fantasies, mirroring the non-linear and associative nature of human thought. This device allows the reader direct access to Berlin's internal world, his fears, hopes, and moral deliberations. It blurs the lines between objective reality and subjective experience, immersing the reader in Berlin's psychological landscape and emphasizing the power of the mind to construct its own reality amidst chaos. This technique makes Berlin a highly relatable and deeply explored character.
Going After Cacciato Quotes
“It was a way of remembering, and of making sure he would never forget, and of understanding that the only way to make it stop was to keep it going.”
“You could look at a thing and know what it was, but you couldn't look at it and know what it meant.”
“The thing about war, you could make it up. You could make up your own war. You could make up your own peace.”
“He would not die. He would not allow it. He would not permit it. He would not be caught dead.”
“Sometimes you have to make things up to find out what's real.”
“The truest things were the things you could not see, the things that existed only in the mind.”
“He was still alive. And he was still afraid. The two facts were inseparable.”
“It was not a matter of courage. It was a matter of being there.”
“He would not run. He would not hide. He would go after Cacciato.”
“The past was not a thing to be escaped from, but a thing to be entered into, explored, understood.”
“War was a space in which the imagination could flourish, a territory where anything was possible.”
“He felt that he had been living in a dream, and that he was now waking up, but the waking was just another dream.”
“Cacciato was a figment, a wish, a dream of peace.”
“It was a long walk, and a long war, and a long time coming.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What is the primary motivation for the platoon to 'go after Cacciato'?
- To arrest him for desertion and bring him to court-martial.
- To offer him a chance to rejoin their unit without punishment.
- To ensure his safety as he travels to Paris.
- To learn the route he took to escape the war.
Show answer
A. To arrest him for desertion and bring him to court-martial. The platoon's official mission is to apprehend Cacciato for desertion, a serious military offense, and bring him back for trial.
Question 2
What is Paul Berlin's internal coping mechanism throughout the novel for dealing with the horrors of war?
- He meticulously plans future military strategies.
- He writes letters to his family describing the brutality.
- He constructs elaborate fantasies and daydreams.
- He engages in frequent arguments with his fellow soldiers.
Show answer
C. He constructs elaborate fantasies and daydreams. Paul Berlin frequently retreats into his imagination, envisioning Cacciato's journey and other scenarios, as a way to process or escape the harsh realities of Vietnam.
Question 3
Where does Cacciato claim he is going when he deserts?
- Bangkok
- Paris
- Sydney
- London
Show answer
B. Paris Cacciato explicitly states his intention to walk to Paris, setting the stage for the novel's central imaginative journey.
Question 4
Which character serves as a foil to Paul Berlin's imaginative tendencies, often grounding him in reality?
- Doc Peret
- Sarkin Aung Wan
- Lieutenant Corson
- Oscar Johnson
Show answer
D. Oscar Johnson Oscar Johnson is known for his cynical, practical, and often abrasive demeanor, frequently challenging Paul Berlin's fantasies and reminding him of their grim reality.
Question 5
What significant event occurs at the observation post (OP) that deeply affects Paul Berlin and the platoon?
- They successfully capture Cacciato there.
- They receive orders for immediate withdrawal from Vietnam.
- A tunnel complex is discovered, leading to the death of several soldiers.
- They encounter a group of friendly villagers offering aid.
Show answer
C. A tunnel complex is discovered, leading to the death of several soldiers. The discovery of the elaborate tunnel system and the subsequent deaths of several soldiers, including Billy Boy Watkins, is a pivotal and traumatic event for Paul Berlin and his unit, often revisited in his thoughts.
Question 6
The novel blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. What thematic purpose does this serve regarding the Vietnam War experience?
- To suggest that all war experiences are inherently fictional.
- To highlight the psychological toll and surreal nature of the conflict.
- To criticize soldiers for not being able to distinguish fact from fiction.
- To provide a clear historical account of specific battles.
Show answer
B. To highlight the psychological toll and surreal nature of the conflict. The blend of reality and fantasy emphasizes the disorienting, hallucinatory, and psychologically fragmented experience of soldiers in Vietnam, where the mind's escape mechanisms become crucial.
Question 7
In Paul Berlin's imagined journey to Paris, who is Sarkin Aung Wan, and what role does she play?
- A Vietnamese spy who attempts to sabotage their pursuit.
- A local guide who helps them navigate the jungle terrain.
- A young Vietnamese woman who joins Paul Berlin on his imagined journey and offers him solace and a sense of connection.
- The leader of a resistance movement Cacciato attempts to join.
Show answer
C. A young Vietnamese woman who joins Paul Berlin on his imagined journey and offers him solace and a sense of connection. Sarkin Aung Wan is a significant figure in Paul Berlin's fantasy, representing companionship, love, and a potential escape from the war's harshness, accompanying him through various imagined stages of the journey.
Question 8
The 'peace table' scene, where Cacciato presents his argument for desertion, is a prime example of the novel's use of:
- Historical documentation and archival research.
- Magical realism and philosophical debate within a dreamlike setting.
- A traditional courtroom drama structure.
- A straightforward military debriefing.
Show answer
B. Magical realism and philosophical debate within a dreamlike setting. The peace table is a highly symbolic and surreal scene, existing purely in Paul Berlin's imagination, where Cacciato articulates profound reasons for his actions, highlighting the novel's blend of fantasy and philosophical inquiry into war and morality.
Question 9
What is the significance of the recurring motif of 'going after' in the novel, beyond the literal pursuit of Cacciato?
- It symbolizes the military's relentless pursuit of victory at all costs.
- It represents the soldiers' internal struggle to 'go after' meaning, hope, or escape in a senseless war.
- It refers to the constant search for enemy combatants in the jungle.
- It highlights the difficulty of physically tracking a deserting soldier.
Show answer
B. It represents the soldiers' internal struggle to 'go after' meaning, hope, or escape in a senseless war. The act of 'going after' Cacciato becomes a metaphor for the soldiers' own desperate search for purpose, sanity, and a way out of the war, whether through physical escape or mental transcendence.
Question 10
How does the novel ultimately resolve the question of Cacciato's fate and the platoon's mission?
- Cacciato is successfully apprehended and returned to the unit.
- Cacciato is killed in a skirmish with the Viet Cong.
- The mission is abandoned, and the platoon returns to base without him.
- The resolution remains ambiguous, existing primarily within Paul Berlin's mind, never fully confirmed in objective reality.
Show answer
D. The resolution remains ambiguous, existing primarily within Paul Berlin's mind, never fully confirmed in objective reality. The novel deliberately leaves Cacciato's actual fate and the outcome of the pursuit open-ended. The 'going after Cacciato' narrative is largely a construct of Paul Berlin's imagination, and its conclusion, like much of the story, is subjective and unresolved in the 'real' world of the novel.
Going After Cacciato FAQ
What is the central premise of 'Going After Cacciato'?
The novel primarily follows Paul Berlin, a soldier in the Vietnam War, as he imagines or dreams of chasing a fellow soldier, Cacciato, who has deserted and is attempting to walk to Paris. This fantastical journey is interwoven with vivid flashbacks and present-day realities of the war, creating a complex narrative structure.
Who is Cacciato and what is his significance to the plot?
Cacciato is a young, seemingly naive soldier who one day lays down his rifle and begins walking west, declaring his intention to reach Paris. He serves as the catalyst for Paul Berlin's elaborate fantasy journey, representing both an escape from the horrors of war and a challenge to the established order of military duty.
How does the novel blend reality and fantasy?
The narrative oscillates between the gritty, immediate realities of the Vietnam battlefield, including intense combat and the deaths of comrades, and Paul Berlin's elaborate, often surreal, imagined pursuit of Cacciato across Asia and Europe. The transitions are often seamless, blurring the lines between what is truly happening and what exists only in Berlin's mind.
What role do Paul Berlin's fellow soldiers play in the story?
Paul Berlin's squadmates, such as Doc Peret, Lieutenant Corson, and Oscar Johnson, are present in both the real-world combat scenarios and the imagined pursuit of Cacciato. They serve as companions, foils, and sometimes antagonists, each reacting differently to Cacciato's desertion and contributing to the psychological landscape of Berlin's experience.
What is the 'tunnel' mentioned in the book, and what does it symbolize?
The 'tunnel' is a literal underground passage the soldiers discover, but it also functions as a powerful symbol of escape and the unknown. For Paul Berlin, entering the tunnel is a pivotal moment that triggers his sustained fantasy about Cacciato's journey, representing a descent into his own subconscious and a departure from reality.
Are there any recurring motifs or symbols beyond the tunnel and Cacciato's journey?
The act of 'counting' or 'not counting' casualties and days is a recurring motif, highlighting the soldiers' struggle to quantify and cope with loss. The constant presence of water, from the rain in Vietnam to the seas crossed in the fantasy, also symbolizes cleansing, transition, and the fluidity of reality.
How do the character names contribute to the novel's themes?
Cacciato, meaning 'hunted' or 'chased' in Italian, directly reflects his role as the object of pursuit. Paul Berlin's name evokes a sense of division (like the Berlin Wall) and a journey or destination. These names subtly reinforce the core themes of escape, pursuit, and psychological fragmentation.
What is the significance of the encounter with Sarkin Aung Wan?
Sarkin Aung Wan is a young Vietnamese woman who joins Paul Berlin and his squad during their imagined journey. She represents a connection to the civilian world, a potential for love or companionship amidst the chaos, and a different perspective on the conflict, challenging Berlin's soldierly identity.
How does Paul Berlin cope with the psychological trauma of war?
Paul Berlin copes primarily through an elaborate, sustained fantasy, creating an alternative reality where he can process the horrors and moral dilemmas of Vietnam. This imaginative escape allows him to confront his fears, guilt, and the meaninglessness of certain actions without fully breaking down in the face of brutal reality.
What is the psychological function of Cacciato's desertion for Paul Berlin?
Cacciato's desertion acts as a psychological trigger for Paul Berlin, allowing him to explore his own desires for escape and a life beyond the war. Cacciato embodies the tempting, yet forbidden, act of abandoning duty, providing Berlin a safe mental space to consider such a radical departure without physically committing it.
How does the novel explore the concept of courage?
The novel challenges traditional notions of courage, presenting it not just as bravery in battle but also as the courage to imagine, to hope, and to question. Paul Berlin's imaginative journey, while an escape, also requires a different kind of courage—the courage to confront internal fears and moral ambiguities.
What psychological effect does the constant blurring of reality and fantasy have on the reader?
The blurring of reality and fantasy immerses the reader in Paul Berlin's disoriented state, mirroring the psychological impact of war itself. It forces the reader to question what is real, creating a sense of unease and empathy for Berlin's struggle to maintain his sanity and moral compass.
Is Cacciato's journey to Paris a literal possibility within the novel's world?
No, Cacciato's journey to Paris is not presented as a literal possibility within the novel's realistic framework. It is explicitly framed as Paul Berlin's elaborate fantasy, a coping mechanism and a mental escape from the immediate horrors of the Vietnam War, making it a symbolic rather than a literal pursuit.
Does Paul Berlin ever truly 'catch' Cacciato?
In the literal sense, Paul Berlin never physically 'catches' Cacciato on his imagined journey; Cacciato always remains just out of reach. Symbolically, however, Berlin 'catches' Cacciato by fully engaging with the implications of Cacciato's act, exploring the desire for escape within himself, and confronting the meaning of duty and freedom.
What is the novel's ultimate message about war?
The novel suggests that war is not merely a physical conflict but a profound psychological one, capable of distorting reality and challenging one's sense of self and morality. It emphasizes the human need for meaning and escape in the face of senseless violence, highlighting the power of imagination as a survival tool.
How does the ending of the novel resolve the tension between reality and fantasy?
The ending does not offer a neat resolution but rather reinforces the enduring ambiguity. Paul Berlin is left contemplating the choice between the 'easy out' of desertion and the 'harder out' of enduring the war, suggesting that while fantasy provides solace, the confrontation with reality is ultimately unavoidable, leaving the reader with lingering questions.
Is the novel an anti-war statement?
While it vividly portrays the horrors and psychological toll of war, 'Going After Cacciato' is more complex than a simple anti-war statement. It delves into the individual soldier's internal struggles, the nature of courage, and the human capacity for imagination as a means of survival, offering a nuanced exploration of the human condition within conflict.
What literary techniques does O'Brien employ to achieve its unique narrative style?
O'Brien masterfully uses stream of consciousness, non-linear storytelling, and magical realism to create the novel's distinctive style. The constant shifts between vivid, realistic combat scenes and the fantastical journey of Cacciato, along with Paul Berlin's internal monologues, immerse the reader deeply in his psychological landscape.
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