Yale University

Why is Steinbeck puzzled by soldiers reluctance to discuss their battle experiences?

in "why soldiers won't talk"

Asked by
Last updated by jill d #170087
Answers 1
Add Yours

From the text:

If they had been reticent men it would have been different, but some of them were talkers and some were even boasters. They would discuss their experiences right up to the time of battle and then suddenly they wouldn’t talk any more. This was considered heroic in them. It was thought that what they had seen or done was so horrible that they didn’t want to bring it back to haunt them or their listeners.

Source(s)

Why Soldiers Won't Talk