There's nothing quite as ironical as the peaceful monks in the chapter "Church" cleaning Henry Dobbins' weapon. On page 114, the monks are "squatting quietly in the cool pagoda, [helping] Dobbins disassemble and clean his machine gun." They have a reverence for the soldiers who are there fighting against their government. Just as Dobbins explains his religious views- and how he hates church- "the younger monk use[s] a yellow cloth to wipe dirt from the belt of ammunition." Dobbins is in a church, saying he hates church, cleaning his killing machines, with monks. Seems a little disoriented to me!
I liked how Dobbins' decent side is again shown as he says, "it wasn't the religious part that interested me. Just being nice to people, that's all" (page 115). He makes it seem so simple, yet he's out there fighting a war. Maybe O'Brien put this story in to show not only the deep thoughts and conversations that occur as a result of being in war, but also to show the different religious views of the soldiers.
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