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Of Filial Duty by James Carroll: A Poignant Exploration of Family, Faith, and the Vietnam War

Dalton Foster

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Published in Of Filial Duty James Carroll

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James Carroll's Of Filial Duty is a moving and thought-provoking novel that explores the complex relationship between a father and son, and the impact of the Vietnam War on their lives.

Book of Filial Duty

by James Carroll

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	605 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	70 pages

The novel tells the story of Thomas Duffy, a young man who is drafted into the army and sent to fight in Vietnam. Thomas is a devout Catholic, and he struggles to reconcile his faith with the horrors of war. He is also haunted by the memory of his father, a strict and unyielding man who instilled in him a deep sense of duty.

As Thomas fights in Vietnam, he begins to question everything he has ever believed. He sees the brutality of war firsthand, and he comes to realize that the world is not as simple as his father made it out to be. He also begins to understand his father's own struggles, and he comes to appreciate the sacrifices that his father made for him.

Of Filial Duty is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complex themes of family, faith, and war. Carroll's writing is both lyrical and insightful, and he creates characters that are both believable and relatable. The novel is a must-read for anyone who is interested in these themes, or who is simply looking for a good story.

The Characters

The characters in Of Filial Duty are complex and well-developed. Thomas Duffy is a young man who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is devout Catholic, but he is also haunted by the memory of his father, a strict and unyielding man who instilled in him a deep sense of duty.

Thomas's father is a complex character. He is a devout Catholic, but he is also a man who is deeply affected by the horrors of war. He is a strict and unyielding man, but he also loves his son very much.

The relationship between Thomas and his father is a complex one. They love each other, but they also have very different views on the world. Thomas is struggling to find his place in the world, while his father is set in his ways. This conflict leads to tension between them, but it also forces them to confront their own beliefs.

The Themes

Of Filial Duty explores a number of complex themes, including family, faith, and war. The novel examines the complex relationship between fathers and sons, and the ways in which war can tear families apart.

The novel also explores the theme of faith. Thomas is a devout Catholic, but he struggles to reconcile his faith with the horrors of war. He begins to question everything he has ever believed, and he comes to realize that the world is not as simple as he once thought.

The novel also explores the theme of war. Carroll does not shy away from the brutality of war, and he shows the devastating impact that it can have on individuals and families.

The Writing

James Carroll is a gifted writer, and his prose is both lyrical and insightful. He creates characters that are both believable and relatable, and he tells a story that is both moving and thought-provoking.

Carroll's writing is also very evocative. He uses language to create a vivid sense of time and place, and he brings the characters and their world to life.

The

Image ALT Attributes

Thomas Duffy, a young man struggling to find his place in the world
Thomas's father, a strict and unyielding man who instilled in him a deep sense of duty
The brutality of war
The impact of war on families
James Carroll, the author of Of Filial Duty

Book of Filial Duty

by James Carroll

5 out of 5