The book, "No Mans Land", by S.T Underdahl, is about a troubled and effected soldier who returns home from Afghanistan. Brian, the soldier,once was known as the charmer, and the perfect gentlemen. He was once seen as a star football player and a great inspiration to his younger brother Dov. But after the sights and experiences he had in war, he came back a whole different person. A drunk, a loser, and a loner. He suffered greatly from post traumatic stress. Hallucinations haunted him constantly. His brother Dov, who was always known as the weird one and the one who wasn't going to amount to anything, turned into the more stable brother. As he met new people and blossomed as a person, Brian on the other hand was struggling. Through out the book Dov shows things that symbolize something to him, and so does Brian. Objects, animals, places and death can all symbolize strong emotions.
After Brian returns home, he got into the habit of sleeping with a pistol in his arms. This pistol makes him feel secure. It promises him that whatever happens he will be ready for it, even though he isn't in Afghanistan anymore. The pistol symbolizes security and comfort. It also symbolizes a piece of him that is still in Afghanistan. Brian also has hallucinations that he is still in war. These Hallucinations are extremely vivid and take control over his mind and body. They symbolize the parts of war they he can't get out of his head. These things from war, he will never forget.
Dov on the other hand, has a pet gecko. Brian his brother gave him the gecko. Dov talks to his gecko as if he is a real person. He expresses his feelings towards his gecko. His gecko symbolizes a wonderful friendship. When his gecko dies, his death symbolizes a great relationship that is gone. And a part of his brothers old behaviors is gone. Dov also received anonymous poems from his friend Miranda. These poems symbolize her mysterious love for him. It was her way of expressing her feelings to him.
Anything can symbolize a strong emotion, and everyone has something that symbolizes a good feeling and a bad feeling. Teenagers excpecially experience symbolism. They connect or relate to certain things or people and they hold many things close to their hearts. Teenager, due to there hormones and mood swings, tend to have deep feelings towards many things and because of many things. Symbolism is everywhere.
