Plot
Joe Bonham, a young American soldier serving in World War I, awakens in a hospital bed after being caught in the blast of an exploding artillery shell. He gradually realizes that he has lost his arms, legs, and all of his face (including his eyes, ears, nose, teeth, and tongue), but that his mind functions perfectly, leaving him a prisoner in his own body.
Joe attempts suicide by suffocation, but finds that he has had a tracheotomy that he can neither remove nor control. He then decides that he wants to be placed in a glass coffin and toured around the country in order to demonstrate to others the true horrors of war. Joe eventually successfully communicates this with military officials after several months of banging his head on his pillow in Morse code. However, he realizes that the military will not grant his wish, nor will they put him out of his misery by euthanizing him, as it is "against regulations". It is implied that he will live the rest of his natural life in his condition.
As Joe drifts between reality and fantasy, he remembers his old life with his family and girlfriend, and reflects upon the myths and realities of war.
Characters
- Joe Bonham
Joe Bonham is the main character. He has all of his limbs amputated, and his facial features being removed (eyes, ears, nose, teeth, tongue.) Joe is also devoid of any senses except for that of touch. He is essentially a man trapped with his own thoughts. [3]
- Regular day nurse
The regular day nurse is described by Joe as a heavyset woman doing her job of care taking him. As Joe could not communicate, he squirms out of anticipation to be cared for, which she misreads for stress. She treats Joe as an animal rather than a human with a conscience; not accounting for the fact that Joe was trying to communicate. The nurse becomes agitated of Joe's tapping of his head, unaware that he was communicating through Morse Code. She tries to alleviate what she misreads as Joe being stressed, and goes to the lengths of masturbating Joe once. [3]
- Bill Bonham (Joe's father)
Joe's father, Bill Bonham, courted Joe's mother and raised a family with her in Colorado. Joe is referenced throughout the novel during Joe's reminiscing of earlier times. In chapter one, it is said that Bill passes away. He is survived by Joe, his mother, and his younger sisters (one aged thirteen, one aged nine). [3]
- Marcia Bonham (Joe's mother)
Joe's mother, Marcia Bonham, was close to Joe and Bill. She was known for her cooking skills.
- Kareen (Joe's girlfriend before he leaves for war)
Kareen, aged 19 at Joe's departure, is mentioned throughout the book as Joe floats between reality and fantasy. In chapter three, Kareen and Joe, with her father's reluctant approval, have sexual intercourse for the first time on the night before he leaves.
- Diane (Joe's first girlfriend)
Diane is only mentioned in chapter four. In which it is mentioned that she, during her and Joe's relationship, began a relationship with a man named Glen Hogan. She also has an unfaithful relationship with Joe's best friend, Bill Harper.
- Bill Harper (Joe's best friend)
Bill Harper warns Joe that Diane is in an unfaithful relationship with Hogan as she also has a relationship with Joe, to which Joe hits Bill. Joe later finds out that Bill was truthful and decides that he wants to renew their friendship. However, he finds Bill and Diane at her home and is hurt by both. The end of chapter four references how Bill was killed at Belleau Wood.
- Howie
After his troubles with Diane and Glen Hogan, Joe meets Howie during chapter nine. It was found that Howie was never capable of keeping a relationship with a woman; and his girlfriend, Onie, also had an unfaithful relationship with Glen Hogan. Joe and Howie decided to not only forget about their partners, but to also forget about Glen Hogan. Joe and Howie join a group of Mexicans working on a railroad. However, once Howie receives an apologetic telegram from Onie, the boys decide to return home.
- José
José worked at a bakery with Joe. He was given the job at the bakery through the local homeless shelter. José has many stories that set him apart from the other homeless workers, including the fact that he refused marriage to a wealthy woman. José wanted to work in Hollywood. When the opportunity presented itself to work for a picture company, José purposely gets fired because he feels his own personal honor will not allow him to quit on the boss that gave him his original opportunity.
- New day nurse
The new day nurse was the first person to successfully communicate with Joe after his injuries. She moved her finger on his bare chest in the shape of the letter M until Joe signaled that he understood "M". She then spelled out "MERRY CHRISTMAS" and Joe signaled that he understood. The new day nurse then deduced that Joe's head-banging was in Morse Code and fetched someone who knew Morse Code.
