War

• Quote 1

  • “The war is over and I have no face.” – Francis
  • A symbolic opening line. The physical damage from war represents the emotional and psychological wounds Francis carries. It immediately presents war not as heroic, but as destructive and dehumanising.
• Quote 2

  • “We weren’t heroes. We were only there.” – Francis
  • This quote challenges traditional ideas of heroism in war. Francis denies the glory usually associated with soldiers, portraying war as empty of honour and filled with meaningless suffering.
• Quote 3

  • “I killed two men and didn’t die. But I killed myself too.” – Francis
  • War may not have physically killed Francis, but it destroyed his identity and spirit. This reflects the emotional trauma many veterans experience, even when they survive physically.
• Quote 4

  • “I went to war because I wanted to die.” – Francis
  • A powerful and disturbing admission. Rather than patriotic duty, Francis enlists as a form of emotional escape from guilt and shame, showing how war becomes a refuge for the broken rather than a cause for the brave.
• Quote 5

  • “The Silver Star is for bravery, for saving others.”
  • Francis receives a war medal but believes he is not a hero. The quote exposes the gap between public recognition and private truth, suggesting that war honours can hide inner pain or false heroism.
• Quote 6

  • “Gunfire. Explosions. Pain.”
  • Cormier’s short, fragmented language reflects the chaotic, terrifying experience of battle. There’s no glory here — just confusion, fear, and violence.