Question

Which sentences in this excerpt from John Steinbeck's "Symptoms" address the theme of soldiers being reluctant to talk about their experiences in war?

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 anymore. This was considered heroic in them. It was thought that they had seen or done was so horrible that they didn't want to bring it back to haunt them or their listeners. But many of these men had no such consideration in any other field.

Only recently have I found what seems to be a reasonable explanation, and the answer is simple. They did not and do not remember--and the worse the battle was, the less they remember.

Answer 1

The sentences in Steinbeck's "Symptoms" that address soldiers' reluctance to talk about war experiences suggest that the silence could be due to the horrific nature of the battles and suppressed memories.

Step-by-step explanation:

In John Steinbeck's "Symptoms," the sentences that address the theme of soldiers being reluctant to talk about their experiences in war are:

They would discuss their experiences right up to the time of battle and then suddenly they wouldn't talk anymore

It was thought that they had seen or done was so horrible that they didn't want to bring it back to haunt them or their listeners

Only recently have I found what seems to be a reasonable explanation, and the answer is simple. They did not and do not remember--and the worse the battle was, the less they remember."

These sentences convey that soldiers might stop discussing their wartime experiences because of the horrors they've faced and potentially suppressed memories, rather than a heroically stoic nature. This reflection on the human reaction to trauma touches on broader themes of warfare's psychological impact and collective memory.

Answer 2

The sentences which express the reluctance of the soldiers to talk about their experience in war are as follows:
1. If they had been reticent men it would have been different, but some of them were talkers and some were even boasters.
2. They would discuss their experiences right up to the time of battle and then suddenly they wouldn't talk anymore.
3. 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. But many of these men had no such consideration in any other field.

Looking at the sentences written above, it will be seen that the statements are basically expressing the reluctance of the men of war to engage in discussions that have to do with the war. Although many of them are talkatives and talk very well when other topics are been discussed, they become quiet when the discussions turn to that of war. This shows that they are not interested in sharing their experience of war.