War doesn’t just change the world - it changes the people who fight in it. In Tom Baldwin’s ‘The Closet’ (2000), we get a closer look at how war can leave a lasting mark on those who experience it up close. A 12-year-old boy listens as his grandfather, a World War II veteran, shares a story about a decision he made during the war. Taking place in a dark and cramped closet, the grandfather reveals parts of the story, which he has hid from everyone - and even himself for years.
One of the main characters in the story is the grandfather, named Seymour. He is both round and static. He is round because we get to know a lot about his past, and the multiple sides of his personality. On one hand, he is tough and still carries the discipline of his old days in the military. On the other hand, he is vulnerable and shows remorse over the decisions he made during World War II. He is static because he does not change or grow throughout the story. His feelings of guilt remain consistent, even as he shares it with his grandson. We learn about the grandfather’s past through the story he tells about his time as a ship captain during the war. He talks about the time he decided to destroy a raft carrying naked Japanese sailors, believing it was the right thing to do given his duty. To this day, this moment has left a deep mark on him, shaping how he interacts with his family and the world. He repeats the story to his grandson, not only because he lost his short-term memory, but also because he is unable to let go of his guilt caused by this event.
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