Final answer:
In "Speaking of Courage," Norman Bowker has imaginary conversations as he struggles to communicate his trauma from the Vietnam War, which reveals his inner turmoil. He doesn't continue a real conversation perhaps due to the difficulty of connecting with those who haven't shared his experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
In "Speaking of Courage," the protagonist, Norman Bowker, has imaginary conversations with people who are actually present because he struggles to articulate his feelings and experiences from the Vietnam War.
These silent dialogues allow him to rehearse saying things he cannot bring himself to actually voice, revealing his inner turmoil and isolation. The reason he does not continue the one real conversation he starts could be interpreted as his inability to connect with those who haven't shared his experiences, or perhaps his fear of being misunderstood or judged.
Through the use of imaginary dialogue, the author delves into the complexities of post-war trauma and the challenges veterans face in communicating their struggles to others.
This literary device also emphasizes the contrast between Bowker's inner reality and the outer world he finds difficult to reengage with. On a broader level, such storytelling techniques encourage readers to consider the relevance of literature to real life, and how characters' experiences can reflect challenges that people may encounter in reality.