Nov 11, 2009
Published in 1948, The Naked and the Dead earned overwhelming popular and critical acclaim. Most reviewers deemed the novel to be one of the best war stories ever written, praising Mailer's realistic depiction of men at war. The novel focuses on the adventures of a fourteen-man infantry platoon stationed on a Japanese-held island in the South Pacific during World War II. In the course of the novel, the men struggle to survive and find meaning in their lives.
In his introduction to the fiftieth-anniversary edition of the novel, Mailer asserted that The Naked and the Dead reflects what he learned from Tolstoy: "compassion is of value and enriches our life only when compassion is severe, which is to say when we can perceive everything that is good and bad about a character but are still able to feel that the sum of us as human beings is probably a little more good than awful. In any case, good or bad, it reminds us that life is like a gladiators' arena for the soul and so we can feel strengthened by those who endure, and feel awe and pity for those who do not." Mailer's deft and evocative portrayal of the characters' heroic struggle to retain their dignity as they experience the horrors of war provides the book with its enduring value.
Wave
Mailer introduces the novel's major characters in the opening scene as the assault of Anopopei, a mythical Pacific island, is about to begin. The platoon is part of a 6,000-man force poised to take the Japanese-held island in order to clear the way for a larger American advance into the Philippines. The story of the invasion is interspersed with vignettes that provide background information on several of the men. As they wait for their rush onto the beach, many of them address and try to overcome their fear of death.
Argil and Mold
The American soldiers advance quickly during the first few days of the campaign, with little resistance from the Japanese. Soon they realize just how oppressive the heat and moisture of the jungle is. Lieutenant Robert Hearn feels dissatisfied with his position as aide to General Cummings and "contemptuous" of the other officers. He enjoys his almost nightly talks with the general, even though he acknowledges that he is a "tyrant." The general is a complex character who enjoys complete power over his men, and Hearn is attracted to that power.
One day, Hearn becomes upset when the officers get more than their share of rations. In response, the general provides him with a lesson on the politics of war: "Every time an enlisted man sees an officer get an extra privilege, it breaks him down a little more." As a result the "enlisted man involved is confirmed a little more in the idea of his own inferiority" and he grows to fear his superior officers. The general explains, "The army functions best when you're frightened of the man above you, and contemptuous of your subordinates."
The troops grow restless as they wait for orders to advance. When they eventually get orders to carry guns inland, they are soon exhausted by the arduous trip through the jungle. As enemy fire stops them at a river, a Japanese bullet shatters Private Togho's elbow. Later, Croft, Red, and Gallagher come across some wounded Japanese soldiers and Croft orders them killed. Red experiences a mixture of disgust and excitement as he shoots... ยป Complete The Naked and the Dead Summary
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