Violence and Peace

One of Rory’s most significant defining traits is his abhorrence of violence and his desire for peace, and the narrative is largely characterized by an exploration of the struggles and obstacles that Rory must face while attempting to reconcile his current life with his overriding desire for peace. Rory’s abhorrence of violence appears to be largely informed by the traumatic experiences he endured while serving in the Korean War. Early in the novel, Rory remembers standing in an abandoned temple in Korea: “He wanted to remain in this place, so still and quiet amid the hills of guns…Blood so bright upon the sawtooth ridges, and the screaming that never stopped. He could never forget” (14). Over the course of the novel, he repeatedly remembers moments of horrific violence from the war, and he thusly strives towards peace in his daily life, despite...