Allegory In Denis Johnson's Tree Of Smoke

A short story is a genre of writing loved by many for provoking thought and contemplation. According to Edgar Allen Poe, a short story is defined as being a story that “can be read in one sitting.” But contrary to Poe’s point, a short story needs much more analysis to be fully understood than just “one sitting.” In Denis Johnson’s Tree of Smoke, there are a multitude of literary elements working to give a unique perspective to each person reading it. Johnson uses symbolism, diction, and syntax among other elements to create an allegory about the majority of young soldiers in Vietnam. This is portrayed through the shooting of a monkey. The story takes us through that experience and provides the reader with the emotions and thoughts going through

The experience brings the main character to question war in its entirety as well as have a catharsis as he realises his loss of innocence.

On a deeper level Johnson is portraying the majority percentage of young soldiers shipped off to Vietnam, many to their deaths.

Tree of Smoke commences with the news that President John F. Kennedy has been shot and killed. JFK’s assassination not only puts the story into historical context but also provides insight into the mindset of the soldiers. J.F.K’s death came merely a month and 20 days after announcing a withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. Men and women that were expecting to return home to their lives and families have to now be uncertain about their futures. JFK was a symbol of what a strong American was supposed to embody. With him dead, it had to have left many soldiers wondering how they were to survive if a man like JFK couldn't. To add to the mental instability of the whole situation, protagonist Seaman Apprentice WIlliam Houston Jr. has just stayed up the entire night drinking. As he walks through the jungle on the hunt for wild boar, Johnson explains William’s current state by outwardly stating that “he was aware that he was terrifically on edge.” Johnson

Without even thinking about the consequences he raised the gun, aimed it at the monkey's head, and pulled the trigger. In that instant William made the insensible decision to kill the innocent monkey. After being shot the monkey proceeds to twirl around then drop onto the jungle floor in terrible agony. William stands terrified of the convulsions of the monkey as it tries to stay alive. Johnson creates anthropomorphism in personifying the the monkey by having it struggle in a way similar to the way a human would. After being shot, the monkey “sat back against the tree trunk with its legs spread out before it, like somebody resting from a difficult job of labor.” Diction choice with the word “somebody” and the image of somebody resting after doing a hard job makes the reader feel connected to the monkey as if it were a human being. The metaphor is further extended as William picks up the monkey and cradles it back and forth like a baby. He even grabs the monkey by the buttocks and the head the way a parent would cradle their newborn child. In a desperate attempt to calm the crying monkey William says “hey” but it is no use. By trying to communicate to the monkey using human language is Johnson exemplifying just how much the monkey resembles a human in the allegory. From first glance, Seaman William sees merely an animal grasping to a tree. But as the animal becomes closer and clearer