“Hippies, Indians, Buffalo” is a short story written in 1989. The story is written in the past tense and there is a 3rd person narrator. We see it from the central characters point of view which is Martin. The story happens during the Vietnam War.
In the beginning of the story Martin is a careless boy. To escape from the reality he reads his James Bond books. But when he reads the letter from his cousin Toby he changes. After he had read the letter he starts to think about what would happen if he does participate in the war. He will not end up like his cousin; dead. And I will say that is the turning point of the story. Martin’s whole character changes. Suddenly he appreciates his life and does not want to waste it in a fight that is even not for his own country.
His father and grandfather are very strict. They are both very dominating and they are those kinds of people who do not like people to answer back. They value the fight against communism over the young Americans who are sacrificing their lives trying to fight a war they do not even understand. They will argue until they are right. And when they attack Martin verbally he does not do anything but shut his mouth. But Martin learned from the Indians up north that he always should follow his heart and that is why he does not care what his father and grandfather think about him.
Det er gratis at oprette en konto