1. While Quan is having supper with Mr. Buu, what is the significance of Mr. Buu not asking about his son Bien right away? Is he afraid of the answers he will receive? Does he have some inkling that a discussion about Bien will change his life in some way?

2. In some ways Quan seemed to be just a child when he joined the party. Was he old enough to have adult knowledge of his own ideals or was he searching for something and going to war with his friends was the beginning of that search?

3. Quan feels that he can protect everyone. Is this because his family was able to instill this belief into him or was it something that was taught to him by the party?

4. Quan goes off to fight in the war. Are his convictions towards the party strong enough to make him loyal to the rmy? Is this something that he really wanted to do or is he just "doing his duty"?

5. Several incidences occur in Quan's life that seem to make him change. Bien has died. Luong's friendship is different. Hoa is pregnant. Luy has died. Account for the changes in Quan after these incidences.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Answers

2. I think he joined at the army at the age of 18 with the idea it was out of duty for his country. Only after being at war for 10 years did he realize that that was not a good enough reason to have joined the army.

3. I think Quan feels he needs to protect everyone because at an early age he had to be the man of the house. His father was away at war for many years and than his mother died. He was only 8 years old and he had a younger brother to care for. Being the oldest the role of protecting everyone kind of comes natural.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000