Conflict

-the struggle between two opposing forces or characters in a story.
as you may have noticed this story takes place during the Vietnam war. This war was was fought between the communist North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations between the years 1955-1975. Although most of the war was a"cold war" meaning there was no declared war untill later on mostly during the 60's. The purpose of this war was to restrain communism from infecting other countries. Many people questioned this war feeling it was unneccesary and many lives were being lost with no purpose. People became even more inferiated when young American men were being drafted to go over seas and fight this "unneccassary war". This historical conflict is the basis of the story. Tim O'Brien was one of the unfortunate men who were drafted to go over to Vietnam and fight. He made the decsion to except this draft and not flee to Canada and because of this we are able to hear his stories. Because of Tim those soldiers' stories that we read will live on forever "like an old Library book on a shelf"