Going After Cacciatto: In Pursuit of Innocence

With the finale of this book, one tends to conclude that in a way Paul needed an escape from all of the chaos that surrounded him. Sometimes, when we are not able to physically go somewhere our imaginations serve as the best refuge. Our mind can harbour us from the most disturbing and saddening situations, thus allowing us to become free even if it is for only a moment. This way of coping with such difficult situations like the Vietnam war in which Paul is in. Being such a young man, one can see that he has to grow up quickly. He is not able to experience the carefree feeling that many other people of his same age are experiencing due to them not going to war. But, having to face such situation as the war makes you grow up and change in ways that are unexpected. How many times have we met a friend of ours how is happy, carefree and content with life, but then gets to go to war and comes back a completely transformed person. Their ways of viewing life have changed dramatically. Because of this reflection of growth in Paul I conclude that this is a bildungroman book, we see transformation and a journey of somewhat going on thus enabling us to have a glimpse into a life in war.