Loss, a Common Theme in Sweetheart of the Song Trabong and Fences

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Mark Fossie from the “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and Troy Maxson from “Fences” are two different literary characters in two different types of literary work that have many similarities. The “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” written by Tim O” Brien is a fiction story. “Fences” by August Wilson is a play. Both of these literature works have a theme of loss, whether it is of the character himself or someone the character loves deeply. The loss can be a physical loss of the person through death or a mental loss of the person through a tough breakup that the character brought on himself. The “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” ends with Mark losing his sweetheart Mary Anne Bell to the Greenies and “Fences” ends with the death of Troy. Even though they each have a different ending, they both end with a loss that is hinted at throughout the stories using foreshadowing. The characters Mark Fossie and Troy are similar in that they both are controlling, they both have a sweetheart, and by the end of the story, they lose someone.
Mark Fossie from the “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” was in the Vietnam War with fellow soldiers. He misses his longtime girlfriend Mary Anne Bell, who he has been dating since they were children. He says to the soldiers, “You know. Bring in a girl. I mean, what’s the problem?” That was followed by “six weeks later his girlfriend showed up.” Mark wrote a letter to Mary Anne saying he missed her and he wanted her to come and be with him. He controls her because she listened and came. Any other girl would have told her boyfriend or husband that she will see him when he gets home. After some time, Mary Anne feels comfortable being in Vietnam and starts to be with the Greenies. When this happens, Mark gets mad. H...

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...tting stress on his life. Troy Maxson in “Fences” and Mark Fossie in the “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” may seem like controlling people who deserved the loss of the end of the story, but if the reader looks at their life and all they have been through, are going through, and will go through, they can sympathize with these two characters and realize that they are not so bad. They are only human and deep down they are loving men with compassion for the world.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Linda. "'Fences' Is Fiercely Powerful." New York Amsterdam News 101.18 (2010): 17. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 8 May 2014.
Jeffries, April. "Fences: Strong Characters And Their Values." Westchester County Business Journal 39.6 (2000): 5. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 8 May 2014.
Wessling, Joseph H. "Wilson's Fences." Explicator 57.2 (1999): 123. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 May 2014.

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