Going After Cacciato

“Soldiers are dreamers” 

Before the first chapter, O’Brien establishes that this will be a different kind of war novel. We think of soldiers as fighters, heroes, survivors—dreamers wouldn’t be the first word that comes to mind, but it is in fact Paul’s dream that will drive much of the book.

“Paul Berlin, whose only goal was to live long enough to establish goals worth living for still longer, stood high in the tower by the sea, the night soft all around him, and wondered, not for the first time, about the immense powers of his own imagination. A truly awesome notion. Not a dream, an idea. An idea to develop, to tinker with and build and sustain, to draw out as an artist draws out his visions”

Paul’s life is unformed, but his imagination is fully developed and will be the thing that sustains him throughout the war. He believes that the trip to Paris is more than just a dream, that it’s an idea—the distinction being that an idea is plausible, that a plan can be made to carry it out. Paul’s ambitions in life are modest, and though his dreams are fanciful, he believes they can be fulfilled.

“‘No bridges,’ the lieutenant finally said…‘I guess that’s one good thing. No bridges to burn behind me.’” 

This statement marks the point at which the trip to Paris turns from something realistic into pure fantasy as they cross the border into Laos. It also reflects Lieutenant Corson’s character—his military career is basically at an end, and his glory days are behind him. He can afford to take chances, like telling his superiors that Cacciato is missing in action instead of telling them he went AWOL.