Going After Cacciato

In what ways is Paul brave? In what ways is he cowardly? Would you call him brave overall—why or why not? (You may need to first consider what it means to be brave.)

Though the reader never meets Paul’s father, Paul thinks about him often. How would you characterize Paul’s relationship with his father? How does it influence Paul’s actions throughout the novel?

We encounter few women in the novel—Sarkin Aung Wan, her aunts, Jolly, the girl in the van. Consider as many of the female figures as you wish. What role does she or do they play in the overall narrative, and what does that suggest about the role of women in both war and society as a whole?

Why does Paul seek to keep himself separate from the other soldiers when he arrives in Vietnam? Does he achieve this goal, and is that good or bad?

What is the role that guilt plays in Paul’s imaginings? Does he feel guiltier about the things that he’s done or failed to do in war? Do the other soldiers feel guilt? Do you think the guilt that Paul or others feel is proper or improper?

What is your opinion of the politics of the war? Do you agree with Paul that the ends justify the means? Do you agree with Lieutenant Corson that the nature of the war makes it harder to fight? Do you agree with Doc that purpose doesn’t matter to a soldier’s experiences? You may consider any knowledge you have of the Vietnam War from other sources, but you do not have to.

Select your favorite character from the Third Squad, and describe his personality in detail. How is he similar or different from the other soldiers? How do he and Paul interact? What role does he play in the overall makeup of the squad?

Examine the imaginary press conference with Sarkin Aung Wan and Paul Berlin on pages 316-321. What positions do they each represent? How do their actions throughout the novel support these two positions? With which character do you most agree, and why?