America As A Man
America in a Man
"Stockings" by Tim O'Brian centers around a soldier, Henry Dobbins, who finds strength and protection in a pair of his girlfriend's stockings. This might seem unusual to some considering a man is sentimentally attached to a pair of women's undergarments. However, it is how Dobbins sees these stockings and the connection that O'Brian makes paralleling the soldier and the U.S. to portray American values that is the most compelling. He chooses to express his opinion of America through indirect comparisons to the soldier, and portrays resilience, sentimentality, strength and optimism as great American values.
In the first paragraph of "Stockings," O'Brian specifically states similarities between Henry Dobbins and America. He does this by indirectly stateing American qualities, in personified fashion. The reader learns that they both are;
[
]big and strong, full of good intentions, a roll of fat jiggling at his belly, slow of foot but always plodding along, always there when you needed him, a believer in the virtues of simplicity and directness and hard labor. Like his country, too, Dobbins was drawn toward sentimentality (O' Brian 304).
As an American, I see many of these traits exhibited today, such as the increase in nationwide obesity and the comforting ideal that Americans will always band together in times of need like during the September 11th terrorist attacks. However, many of these characteristics are historically American ideals. Throughout history, America has been seen as the land of the big and strong, not to be messed with by outside forces. It has offered opportunities to those who will work hard, keep things simple, and work directly toward their goals. This mentality results in millions of success stories since its establishment in 1776. The characteristic that O'Brian is really driving home with his short story, "Stockings" is American sentimentality. Dobbins stockings are more than just a reminder of...
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