The short story "Bound" in Aimee Phan's We Should Never Meet questions the family bonds and to which extend moral obligation becomes selfish within relationships. Bridget is a physician who feels a need to travel into the Vietnam war zone to help the children who can not themselves, only expected to stay a month, her family "loudly agree[d] that what Bridget was doing was admirable and Christian." However, when she feels that she is morally bound to the children and extents her stay, Bridget's family, states that she is abandoning her husband and her own child to help "damn gooks" and "gook babies." Bridget cannot commit to one group without betraying the other. Although her husband, Ronald, understands her calling, he ultimately perceives Bridget's choice as abandonment and files for separation.
During the three years that Bridget was away, Ronald lived a normal life in the United States; meaning, he lived in his own home with his daughter and only experienced the war through news reports. His lifestyle changes and he no longer sees himself as a husband but rather, a single father whose wife abandoned her family. Living this way, Ronald experiences time as moving forward; Bridget, on the other hand, lives in the war torn country so she experiences time as a standstill. She experiences her family bond and her sense of duty as one drive to bring to safety to as many as possible but Ronald experiences her choice as selfishness.
Once the choice is made, the Vietnam's civilians are now considered the "others" who bring harm to the family dynamic. Bridget's parents cannot understand her choice because they did not experience the war first hand. Ronald, who experienced the Vietnam War as a soldier, understands Bridget's sense of obligation, but views it as a life choice to live as a humanitarian.
By Christina R.
I really liked your observation that Bridget and Ronald experience time differently. It was something I noticed when I was reading "Bound" as well; Bridget's inability to adapt to the fact that life is moving on for those that she left behind is part of the tragedy in her story. I think that your observation that Ronald understands why Bridget made the choices she made, but also that ultimately, it was still a choice that she made was also very astute. Bridget didn't have to make the choices that she did, but she did, and it affected people outside of her and will continue to affect those people for years to come. The narrative shows that her situation is very nuanced, and how it's definitely difficult to discern what the "correct" choice is.
ReplyDeleteBy Kelsey C.
I thought Bridget was a great representation of the United State's role in the Vietnam War. The U.S. presence was indeed riddled with accusations of self-interest and Operation Babylift and other humanitarian efforts thought of, by some, as attempts by part of the U.S. to justify their continual involvement. That Bridget feels so compelled to travel to Vietnam shows the level of personal responsibility the U.S. as a country feels in the global arena of International Relations. The way she insists that her presence is needed and how she feels that others may not be doing all they can to alleviate the situation echoes the U.S. self-appointed responsibility as a world police. Likewise, just as some agree there is a need for the U.S. to step in as mediator, others believe it should not be involved.
ReplyDeleteBy Oscar A.
Your observation with Bridget's altruistic need and her family misinterpreting her intention is interesting. I can see how Bridget feels torn about helping the orphans who need her. The word "selfish" is brought up several times in "Bound." I still feel unsure if Bridget, Hoa, Ronald, or her dad are selfish. Bridget did not mean any harm, but she did unintentionally hurt some people back home. I don't think Ronald completely understands why Bridget volunteers for three years, even if he experienced the war first hand, since he files for a divorce. He did not have much of an option like Bridget. Regardless, no one is truly able to understand Bridget's need to volunteer.
ReplyDeleteAraceli S.
As much as I agree with Bridget’s decision to go to help those kids in need, I also disagree with the fact that she kept herself that far and long time away from her family. It was heartbroken to see the distance and time affected the way her child cared about her, feeling of abandonment. It broke her relationship with her husband and her daughter. As I acknowledge with the fact that Bridget went to Vietnam to help those kids, I believe that she was either running away from the problem of divorce already or trying to understand her husband through the eyes of a veteran. For being away for such a long time her decision was selfish and irrational for her to stay too long away from her family.
ReplyDeleteBy Cory P.