The Issue Of The Tattooed Soldier Novel Film

Studies Essay:
He also brings out the theme of manipulation of humankind, which is observed in the
course of the narrative. Tobar also puts forth the argument that manipulation of masses
carried out by the guerrillas result in individuals leading a destructive life in future
(Tobar 14). This argument is supported through the development of the protagonist
Longoria, as will be observed in the analysis.

ANALYSIS
Brief Analysis of the Novel
The story of the Tattooed Soldier begins as a love story and incorporates painful and
passionate narrative of the lives of two protagonists, Guillermo Longoria and Antonio
Bernal (Tobar 15). In this novel, the author, Hector Tobar tries to bring out different
themes as concerns the story of these two but the main theme that he uses and brings
to light is that of manipulation. Manipulation can be defined as that behavior used by an
individuals to get what they want without paying attention to other individuals’ feelings
while getting it (Tobar 25). It can also be defined as utilizing and understanding any
means necessary in acquiring what one wants or desires to have (Ibid 26). The Tattooed
Soldier is a novel having the theme of emotional manipulation, whereby one of the
protagonists, Longoria, experiences it as part of his recruitment in the guerrilla army.

Tobar also investigates the consequences as well as influences of this type of

manipulation through the protagonists, revealing the nature of how each character
develops in the course of the narrative (Tobar 35). The Tattooed Soldier explores
emotional manipulation by concentrating on the happenings of the Guatemalan Civil
War together with the Los Angeles riots which took place in 1993 (Ibid 36). It is not
always easy to recognize manipulation or when one is being manipulated as is seen with
Longoria’s character. Once a peasant, he was recruited into the guerrilla army as a
teenager, with the promise of paradise full of easy credit, free seed and free land (Tobar
41). This was the ideology given during training sessions meant for Guatemalan officers
based at the U. S. Army base.

Emotional manipulation is also witnessed with Antonio, who being a Guatemalan citizen,
lives in fear of his life from the guerrilla army personnel. The guerrillas had mastered the
art of manipulation by making the people live in pure terror; they exhibited this through
bombings, kidnapping the rich and killing suspected informers (Tobar 47). Because of
this fear and manipulation by the government, Antonio was forced to flee from his
native land upon discovering that him and his family had been suspected of being
informers and were being hunted down.

Manipulation comes in many forms for instance, through aggressive demands or

expectations, neglect, punishment, insults or causing terror to the intended victim
(Tobar 58). There are also consequences as a result of being manipulated as indicated
by the author through his protagonists. It attacks the very being of an individual leaving
them untrusting, unworthy as well as emotionally needy (Ibid 61). This can be seen in
Antonio more than in Longoria as he tries to survive in the streets of Los Angeles where
he has become a refuge. Antonio feels untrusting and develops an overwhelming
emotional need to take vengeance for the murder of his family (Tobar 66). He also feels
manipulated by his government in that instead of protecting its citizens during the Civil
War as it said it would, the government turns its back on them and instead hunts
anyone suspected of being an informer (Tobar 73).

According to Tobar as he indicates in this novel, manipulation also causes individuals to

change inwardly and not for the best. As is with Antonio’s case who was once a naïve
and peace-loving individual, his characteristic changed to that of being a vengeful,
ruthless man who wanted nothing but justice, however possible, for what had been
done to him (Tobar 86).

An Overview of the Theme

The Tattooed Soldier is a novel about love, war and poverty, all brought out in the
course of the narrative. However, the main theme portrayed by Tobar is that of
manipulation of mankind. During the training of the Guatemalan army members at the
United States Army base, ideologies were offered to these peasants who were soon-to-
be soldiers of the Guatemalan army (Tobar 112). These individuals were promised a
paradise of easy credit, free land and free seed and by this; the peasants were
connected to the guerrillas, keeping the Communist movement intact. Guatemalan army
took advantage of innocent citizen by creating fear and terror within them. For instance,
they would kidnap rich individuals, murder anyone suspected of being an informer and
bombed cafes (Ibid 117). As a result, the lives of the Guatemalan citizens are left
destroyed with their emotions, thoughts and feelings inclining towards the negative
attitude as concerns the US government and the Guatemalan Army.

In addition, Hector Tobar investigates the consequences because of the Guatemalan

citizens being manipulated by the guerrillas through his protagonists. Antonio is set on
finding justice and revenge due to the murder of his wife and son and his quest for this
is set against the Los Angeles chaotic riots, which were also taking place (Tobar 124). Los
Angeles is portrayed as a city full of gang members and participation in disorderly
conducts where poverty reigns. The conflicts and riots, which arise during this time, are
as a result of Guatemalan refugees and citizens feeling manipulated and taken
advantage of by the United States government (Ibid 126). It this novel was merely about
a screed against the American imperialism, it would easily have been forgotten. But
instead, it brings to light the evil that mankind has to undergo in the name of finding
justice and survival (Tobar 131).

The theme of manipulation of mankind has been observed in a number of instances

within the narrative. For instance, being a poetic naïve individual, Antonio falls in love
Elena, who is a fellow university student but is forced to flee their Guatemalan homeland
as a result of becoming targets of the government (Ibid 137). As stated earlier on, the
government guerillas engaged in kidnapping and murdering suspected informers and
Antonio together with his family became one of these suspects. Manipulation is brought
out in this instance in that the reader is made to observe the fact that Guatemalan
citizens lived in total terror and fear and were aware that they did not possess any
freedom of movement or speech (Tobar 140). They lived in fear of being killed at any
particular time. Antonio and his family become suspected of being student agitators.

Another side to the theme that is portrayed in the novel is that of unemployment.
During this particular setting, Los Angeles was apparently divided into two classes, that
is, the high class and the low class (Tobar 141). Those of the high class status would find
employment with ease and lead comfortable lives while those of the lower class status
would bounce from one menial job to the next, as was in the case of Antonio (Ibid 143).
After fleeing to Los Angeles, Antonio became schizophrenic, homeless and lived
amongst junkies who used to steal food for him. On the other hand, when Longoria
came to Los Angeles, life for him was apparently easier as compared to Antonio’s. This
can be attributed to the fact that he was one of the members of the elite units within the
Guatemalan army, therefore enabling him to have special privileges (Tobar 157). This
fact angers Antonio who makes the observation that Longoria is able to move freely
within the United States without much obstruction.

Additional theme to the narrative by the author

The author of The Tattooed Soldier is also arguing about racial discrimination though
this is a minor theme as compared to that of manipulation of mankind. The chaotic riots
taking place in Los Angeles during the time that Antonio was stalking and plotting
against Longoria were because of the Rodney King trial. Rodney King was an African-
American individual who was a victim of police brutality by LAPD (Los Angeles Police
Department) in 1991 (Tobar 163). The problem began when Rodney’s car was spotted
speeding beyond the Californian speed limit on their way from a friend’s house in Los
Angeles, where they had spent the night drinking and watching a baseball game (Ibid
164 ). His car was flagged down by traffic police and once they ordered him out of the
car, the four police officers pounced on him with batons, beating him repeatedly while
he was on the ground. While LAPD suggested that these officers were acting in self-
defense as a way of restraining Rodney, the rest of the African-American society
perceived it to be a racial discrimination act of violence (Tobar 167). As a result, Rodney
suffered internal injuries and a fractured skull.

In the course of the investigation, another trial took place involving a Korean American
who was to be sentenced because of shooting dead a young African-American woman
(Tobar 174). The individual was handed a lenient sentence and this further increased
racial tensions in the city of Los Angeles. In 1992, the year when the narrative involving
Antonio and Longoria is set, the four officers involved in the Rodney case were cleared
of any accusation of assault (Ibid 185). This was the cause of the riots during that
particular time. Antonio, being a naïve, average class citizen of Guatemala was taken
advantage of by the government and forced to flee his native land. Once in Los Angeles,
he became a victim of racial discrimination in that he could not easily find employment
or a decent place to stay due to his ethnic background (Tobar 231). This factor was
further fueled by the happenings in Los Angeles as a result of the Rodney King trial.

Elements of the Text supporting the Author’s argument

The Tattooed Soldier is a captivating novel which provokes its readers to re-think about
their ideas and understanding as concerns homeless immigrants in the city of Los
Angeles as well as the victimized individuals in Guatemala (Tobar 239). Antonio and
Longoria are faced with the issues of class structure and ethnicity in the settings
portrayed in the narrative. Military strategies, human rights violations, emotional and
personal conflicts and refugee undertones are all incorporated in this powerful novel
making the narrative easy to relate with (Ibid 242). Certain elements of the text support
Tobar’s argument concerning the themes of the narrative. For instance, the setting of
the narrative is during the time when a major trial involving an African-American
individual and the Los Angeles Police Department was taking place (Tobar 248). At the
same time, majority of Guatemalan citizens were fleeing their country due to the
guerrillas kidnapping, bombing and killing them on suspicion of being informers and
instigators.

Circumstances surrounding the events prompt and manipulate Antonio into desiring to
take revenge and readers observe the change in his characteristic – from that of being a
naïve, peace loving individual to that of being a rage driven individual full of vengeance
(Tobar 253). Revenge becomes the sole reason and purpose for his quest to continue
living and surviving. As part of the few elements introduced to support the author’s
arguments as concerns the themes, the readers are introduced to another character,
Frank, who happens to be a homeless African-American (Ibid 259). Frank befriends
Antonio who also finds himself in the state of being homeless in the streets of Los
Angeles. Together, they move from one camp to the next, and after spotting Longoria in
one of the camps, Antonio requests Frank to help him get his revenge (Tobar 260). At
the beginning, Frank is hesitant as to assisting him in his quest but on mentioning that
Longoria can be compared to Nazi, only a modern day version of one, he does not think
twice. Frank is also in a position to relate with current happenings during that period
since he also happens to be of a minority group, living in a city where there exists racial
tension and manipulation (Ibid 263).

Moreover, the setting of the narrative is of two distinct yet similar scenarios, which are
intertwined by the protagonists, Antonio and Longoria. Guatemala and Los Angeles are
both depicted as being peaceful to begin with but ending up in chaos as a result of civil
war and racial tension caused by the Rodney King trail, respectively (Tobar 256). Being
citizens of Guatemala but hailing from different backgrounds, Antonio and Longoria find
themselves in the city of Los Angeles in an attempt to escape from their painful
memories. Here, they are brought together under different circumstances into the same
plot of the narrative and the reader observes how each of the protagonists reacts to
their present situation (Tobar 254). This new environment does not change the
characteristic of either of them and they do their best to adapt to their surroundings.
Both Antonio and Longoria are seen to migrate from one camp to the next but the
difference is that Longoria is able to enjoy certain privileges bestowed upon him due to
the nature of his rank (Ibid 265). On the other hand, Antonio is left to fend for himself
and try surviving whichever way he can since he does not enjoy the same privileges.

The Los Angeles riots provoke the protagonists to become more emotional and are
reminded of their past memories. For instance, once the riots begin, Antonio finds an
inner resolve as a result of being swept up in the emotion, pushing him to seek justice
by proceeding to kill Longoria (Tobar 270). Longoria also finds himself in an emotional
turmoil after being confronted by Guatemalan refugees who recognized him for who he
is and demanded answers to his actions while living in Guatemala. The general setting of
the story is in the years 1991 and 1992 when Guatemalan civil war and the Los Angeles
riots took place (Ibid 272). The story is also set in two distinct cities, Los Angeles, being a
large urban area and Guatemala, being a middle class, small area. These two cities
however, share a similar scenario in that they are both set during harsh economic times
(Tobar 275). This has an overall impact on the protagonists who find themselves caught
up in the occurrences of that particular period. Even though they do not change their
identity despite the environments they find themselves in, their attitudes and emotional
status are greatly influenced by the surrounding circumstances (Tobar 276).
The design or plot of the narrative in The Tattooed Soldier follows a pattern that enables
the reader to understand the humanity of war. The narrative begins with a love story of
Antonio and Elena, proceeds with her and her son’s brutal execution by the guerrillas,
one of whom is Longoria and ends with a street murder at the height of Rodney King
riots in Los Angeles (Tobar 279). The author of The Tattooed Soldier leaves the readers
greatly uncentered in that he depicts Antonio and Longoria as victims facing the same
challenging situation in Los Angeles. This in turn leads the readers to setting aside their
perceived hatred towards Longoria and instead makes them empathize with both
protagonists (Ibid 283).

CONCLUSION
Hector Tobar writes the novel The Tattooed Soldier with the aim of looking at issues
facing the society as a whole for instance issues related to class structure and ethnicity.
Victimized individuals in Guatemala as well as homeless immigrants living in Los Angeles
are brought to light and this enables the readers to put aside their differences and
hatred for a moment and instead focus on experiencing mutual humanity.

WORK CITED
Tobar, Hector. The Tattooed Soldier. Delphinium Books. University of Texas. 1998. p. 25
– 307.

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