Triage

1. Triage By YemoGuo

2. Opening of Triage • At the very beginning of the novel, we meet Mark – lying in a field of flowers. We find out that he has sustained a head injury from an artillery shell. (not to the extent as above picture) • This is a very important moment in the novel because we are introduced to the traumatic experience for the first time • The narrator is confusing us with changes in tense – thus giving us the impression that not everything is being told to us

3. The Harir Cave – Worst Hospital in the World • This is the scene where Mark is found and taken into triage. He has been to this place before but merely as an observer and photographer. Now, he is a patient, and knows the “system of tags” by the “incorruptible doctor” Talzani. • This scene is significant because it shows certain attributes about Dr. Talzani– he believes in fate not systems, and even admits to occasionally dealing out his tags in random because it is so dark and hard in the cave. • We learn that Mark fears death, and also the fear of disappearing. However, at this point, he only shows that he’s afraid of getting a blue tag which will have him killed. He acts very alert and tries very hard to show that he is okay. • Mark learns that in Talzani’s eyes, war is completely random. He does not understand it in it’s full sense at this moment, though.

4. Mark telling Elena (lack of) • Mark tells Elena it was “Good” in Kurdistan, “got heaps of good shots”. He briefly mentions his head but he does not mention what has happened to his friend Colin. He tells her he stayed behind “to gather more material”. We later find out this is a lie • This lie by Mark shows the disconnection he has with the trauma he had just suffered. This reflects upon western society in the way it treats war – they do not talk about the psychological effects of war. • This moment is very important to the text overall because it introduces the relationship between Mark and Elena, and also the psychological trauma Mark is beginning to show through the disconnection with his own experience. • We learn that Mark finds it easy to lie – and this isn’t the first time he has done so to disconnect himself from the pain and trauma of his career.

5. Mark’s play emotions • At a dinner party, Elena notices Mark’s emotions and how it isn’t what he feels but copying his fellow photographers. “He [Mark] was laughing the loudest…” • This is important because Mark has shown that he can no longer be himself – he has disconnected his feelings and emotions completely because he is trying to deny the trauma and psychological pain he feels inside. • We see that once again, Mark is very careful and very quick about his surroundings. He does not let his guard down, and falls deeper into this depressed state in which he is not himself but instead, mimicking other people. • We learn that Western Society again does not feel/talk about psychological trauma, it is almost expected to get better by itself in which no one needs to tend to it. Only physical pain or injuries are cared for and worried about by friends and family because they can see the healing process in action.

6. Mark’s Collapse • We finally see the psychological turmoil physically degrade Mark to the state of collapse. • We realise that Mark can no longer bare the trauma, however he still doesn’t admit to the pain. • We see the effects of the lack of psychological support for people who suffer that kind of trauma. They’re left to either get better by themselves or hit rock bottom like Mark has

7. Mark telling Diane • This is after Mark draws the map of Kurdistan on his wall with the help of Joaquin – he tells Diane some truth about her husband, particularly about his death. • This is very important, because it is the first time Mark admits Colin’s death. • We learn that Mark is not as strong as he looks, and has begun to plunge into his emotions. He refused to look at Diane, instead chose to close his eyes tight. This still shows that Mark has not come to accept the facts, and he still feels responsible for Colin’s death, despite Diane repeatedly telling him that he was not to blame. • We also learn that Diane is quite a strong woman, who I believe already knew about Colin’s death subconsciously because she dealt with the news rather well.

8. The Final Goodbye • After Joaquin shows where and why he killed Carlos Perez, Mark finally realises that it is not his fault Colin died. “He wouldn’t stop dying…” • The significant symbol in this section is the bunch of flowers – they were there in the opening passage, “it was the flowers that did it”. By releasing the flowers, Mark is showing that he is letting go of believing in the responsibility of his friend’s death. • We finally see Mark, “returning from the dead to the ones that love him”. Elena notices his eyes in particular are no longer “green stones in his face” but “eyes lit with longing and sad hopefulness and promise of future laughter…”