Write a full paragraph that contrasts the effects of war in two of the following works: "Cranes," "Thoughts of Hanoi," and "Tokyo."

1 answer

The effects of war are portrayed in starkly different ways in "Cranes" and "Tokyo." In "Cranes," war is depicted as a deeply personal and devastating experience, as the two childhood friends find themselves on opposite sides of the Korean War. The emotional toll of the conflict is evident as the two men struggle to reconcile their past friendship with their present circumstances. On the other hand, "Tokyo" presents a more distant and detached view of war, as the narrator wanders through the city observing the destruction caused by World War II. The focus is on the physical devastation rather than the personal relationships affected by the conflict, highlighting the widespread and indiscriminate nature of war's destruction. Both works showcase the profound impact of war, but in "Cranes" the emphasis is on individual stories and relationships, while in "Tokyo" it is on the broader, societal consequences of conflict.