Approach of the Study Method of the Study
“Maria was a girl he had known in Italy during the war, along time ago, and he never thought about the seventeen man he had killed” p. 13
Although Tom Rath tries to forget about Maria and the memories about
the war, suddenly a man named Caesar come up to his life. He is Tom’s friend from Italy during the war, and brings a news about Maria. After meet him, Tom
become more curious about the news from Maria, so when Caesar wants to meet him, Tom does not mind. He arrange a meeting while having lunch. The proof of
the explanantion above is written in this following quotation “Caesar, he said, did you ever hear anything about Maria? Caesar looked
down at the table. I did, he said. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. How is she? I haven’t heard anything lately, not for more than a year” p.
146
After meeting with Caesar Tom finally figures out about Maria. The good news is that Maria has married, Tom pleased about that. But, the bad news is that
Maria has a son and Tom is his father. Tom does not deny about that shocking news. He feels regret about the son. This is the quotation from Caesar whe tries to
explain about the story “You knew she married that guy who had the bakeshop, Louis Lapa? No
Tom said. When? Caesar seemed embarassed. She married him about two months after we left. You knew she had a son? He said. She had a son
alittle while later. No, Tom said. She’s got a boy, Caesar said, and things weren’t going well for them. You know Louis had a bad leg. I’m sorry to
hear that, Tom said.” p. 146
Caesar wants Tom to send a little money to Maria and his son every single month. But, Tom use a reason that he has a wife and three kids, and Tom can not
send anything to Maria without his wife finding about about it. It shows that actually Tom is an honest husband. The following quotation is a proof for the
explanantion above
“I’ve got a wife here Tom said. A wife and three kids. I’m not trying to make any trouble for you, Caesar said hastily. I just thought that if you had
a little money you didn’t know what to do with..You don’t understand, Tom said. I’m practically broke and I never could send Maria much of
anything without my wife finding out about it.” p. 147
The one thing that Tom always changes the topic of conversation with his wife Betty is about the war. Tom never answers Betty’s question about the war.
The memories about the war really disturb Tom’s life. He would never have to tell her anything about the war, not about Maria, not about Mahoney, not about
anything. The following quotation is a proof for the explanantion above “Do you mind talking about the war? There are all sorts of questions i’m
dying to ask. There’s not much to tell, he had said.” p. 179 “Did you ever kill anyone? Of course. I mean, did you personally ever kill
anyone? You’re never talked to me about it at all. Right now I’m too tired, I want to go to sleep, Tom stirred restlessly.” p. 130.
Mahoney is Tom’s friend in the army. They fight together against Japanese soldiers in the Pacific. In the battle Tom throw a grenade to clean out the
the Jap mortar, unfortunately he throw the grenade too quick and Mahoney still not in the safe position to cover. Tom feels guilty until now because of that
tragedy. That is why he never answer Maria’s question. The following quotation is a proof for the explanation above
“Tom had just managed to clean out the Jap mortar when Mahoney ran out from behind his rock. Tom had whirled and thrown a hand grenade. Just
too late, the grenade had exploded. Mahoney’s entire chest had been torn away, leaving the naked lungs and splintered ribs exposed.” p. 94-95