Johnny Got His Gun
By: Dalton Trumbo
Summary
Review
Characters
Main Characters-
Joe Bonham- He is the Main Character throughout the story. He is also the narrator and protagonist in the story. The story is basically a reflection of what is going on in his mind, how he is feeling, and his philosophy or ideals on life and war. He is bedridden throughout the story after being blown apart in a bunker in WWI. He has no arms or legs and is without any senses besides feeling along his neck, forehead and hips.
Old Day Nurse- Is the nurse that takes care of Joe and is a constant figure of imagination in his mind. She is the nurse with "a heavy step" and is often a major key to many of Joe's connections to the outside world early in the story.
New Day Nurse- She is the Nurse that Joe considers very caring. She doesn't come along toward the end of the story. She seems to be very sympathetic with Joe and eventually makes the connection that Joe is trying to communicate to the outside world.
Joe's father, Bill Bonham- He is often Joe's voice of reason, he represents the value of people over things. When Joe has to make a decision it is often his dads voice that answers the question.
Secondary Characters-
Kareen- She is Joe's nineteen year old girlfriend who Joe obsesses over in his head while in coma. She gives Joe her ring when he leaves for war as a memory of her. Joe becomes very protective of this ring.
Kareen's father, Mike- He is a mean, thick minded old coal miner. He is always in a bad mood cussing everything he sees.
Bill Harper- Joe's best friend in Shale City, Colorado. Him and Joe are friends up until their late teens and then Joe does not inter react with him anymore.
Howie- Another kid that lives in shale city with Joe, they decide to work on a railroad section gang one summer to get their minds off things back home.
Diane- She was Joe's teenage love back in Shale City Colorado, she gets on Joe with the rich kid Glen Hogan.
Jose- A nice Puerto Rican man that works at the same baked goods factory as Joe in Los Angeles. Jose represents how hard work can lead to success also, how nice things can happen to nice people.
Macia Bonham- Joe's mom who would cook and leave pies in the window. She would sing often and was a major part in keeping the family happy in Joe's childhood. She Is often a childhood memory that appears in Joe's mind.
Favorite Passage
Cited Sources MLA Format
"Johnny Got His Gun and Metallica's "One"" YouTube. YouTube, 28 Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paoJ1s7yg_0>.
"Johnny Got His Gun: Extra Large Movie Poster Image - Internet Movie Poster Awards Gallery." Johnny Got His Gun: Extra Large Movie Poster Image - Internet Movie Poster Awards Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.impawards.com/1971/johnny_got_his_gun_xlg.html>.
"Metallica - One [Official Music Video]." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8bTdBs-cw>.
"Movie Trailer - 1971 - Johnny Got His Gun." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Jan. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz6dAxRIwBY>.
SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/johnnygun/characters.html>.
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