Hector Tobars Book The Tattooed Soldier - Essay Example

Antonio is depressed because he lost his family and Guillermo was also forced to become the person he is today because of circumstances. Both have one thing in common –they are haunted by memories. The author has justified the stands of both the characters in the story. His story clearly states that a person doesn’t turn evil on his own choice but he is forced to become so. At the same time, he also reveals the fact that circumstances can make a good human being do things that are not justified. As Antonio himself says “With a gun, anyone could be a killer. Guns were very democratic instruments. They did not discriminate. With guns the weak became strong, the frightened brave. Anyone who held one became invincible.”(Tobar, pg. 269)

Antonio used to live in Guatemala along with his family when one day his wife and infant son were killed by the leader of the death squad, Guillermo Longoria (the tattooed soldier). Antonio immigrates to L. In the hope to lead a better life but to this despair he finds only poverty and homelessness in such a big city. During the 1980s, the immigrants believed that L. A was a place where one could live safely with his family and be financially well off but the reality was entirely different. Antonio is treated as an illegal immigrant and there is no room for sympathy for him.

One day Antonio, trying his best to live a peaceful life in the city, finds Longorio in a park playing chess. Obsessed by his family’s memories, he plans to take revenge on Longoria for his loved ones' death. Antonio decides to study his enemy carefully and then take action. Longoria, who is now an ex-soldier, is unaware that he is being stalked. Antonio attacks Longoria with a broad pipe while the letter is playing chess, unaware of the tragedy that will strike him. Unfortunately, Longorio almost escapes the attack, being just wounded. Antonio plans another attack, this time with a gun bought with the help of one of his homeless friends. This time, however, Antonio is successful and can get rid of his enemy and end his avenge (Tobar, 1998).

Tobar has successfully brought forward the stories of two Guatemalans who are living the life of refugees in the city of Los Angeles. He also tells us the story of the hateful Longorio-how circumstances forced him to become the person he was today. Longoria was a small peasant who had been forced to join the army but gradually started loving his position due to the powers endorsed to him. He too justified the act of the mass massacre of the whole village (in which Antonio lived) to stop communism. The logic of communism which drove Longorio and his men to kill innocent people was illogical but Longorio was too haunted by memories.

In his book, Tobar not only sympathizes with Antonio’s grief-stricken story but also reveals the real story of the villain Longorio with the understanding of the social forces that molded him. The good Antonio and evil Longoria have been equally justified in the book by Tobar. Although justice didn’t prevail in the revenge since Longorio was forced to become bad and acted accordingly. If Longoria had killed Antonio’s family, Antonio did the same by killing him and taking revenge. A killing is not always the answer for further killing; Antonio should have opted for another solution. Even killing the tattooed soldier didn’t relieve Antonio from his depression.

In this book, Tobar can bring forward the grueling story of love, anger, hatred, and revenge in an exceptionally well manner. He has revealed the real face of L. A and the cruel life of all the immigrants who shifted there in the 1980s through his main protagonist, Antonio, and Guillermo Longoria in the book. Also, he shows how good always wins over evil but at the same time reveals that a person doesn’t always turn evil willingly; circumstances force him to be so. This book reveals the true face of society and also teaches us that we should differentiate between what is good and evil effectively and take action accordingly. Think before you leap. Read More