Vietnam

The Southeast Asian country where the Vietnam War was fought and Kovic was injured.

The Fourth of July

The day on which Kovic was born, which regularly symbolized his shattered pride in his country.

The VA Hospitals

The Veterans Administration of the United States is responsible for taking care of veterans from American wars, but their hospitals were in a disgraceful state in Kovic's opinion.

Dead Body Parts

Kovic often saw himself as partly dead because he was paralyzed, unable to have sex and control his bladder. He also often discusses dismembered and the common experience of injured soldiers who lose use of their body parts or their body parts themselves.

Kovic's Catheter

The device that ran Kovic's urine to his urine bag. Sometimes it would malfunction and Kovic's urine would spread everywhere. It also symbolized the sexual frustration that Kovic endured.

Kovic's Urine Bag

The bag...