Short Fiction · Chapter
Men in War and the Death of Society explained
Yogi Johnson walks through a spring thaw in Petoskey, troubled by his lack of desire for women.
What happens
Yogi Johnson walks through a spring thaw in Petoskey, troubled by his lack of desire for women. He reflects on war, football, and the nature of soldiering. After meeting two decorated Indian veterans, he plays pool with them and walks into town, contemplating the false chinook and the return of winter.
Themes in this chapter
Post-War Trauma and Alienation
Yogi's lack of desire for women and his reflections on the phases of soldiering illustrate the psychological impact of war.
Masculinity and Sexual Anxiety
Yogi's worry about not wanting a woman and his attempt to find meaning through horses and male companionship.
American Identity and Disillusionment
Yogi's encounter with the Indians as 'the only real Americans' and his critique of the pump-manufacturers and society.
War and Literary Representation
Yogi's critique of literature about war, specifically Willa Cather's book, and the idea that only those with experience should write about it.
Characters to notice
- Yogi Johnson
Protagonist walking from pump-factory, troubled by lack of desire for women, reflecting on war and soldiering.
- Scripps O'Neil
Mentioned as having started for Chicago on an eventful night.
- The Indian
One of two Indian veterans who meet Yogi; claims D.S.O. and M.C. with bar, major in Fourth C.M.R.'s.
- Indians
Two Indians, one with artificial arms, who play pool with Yogi and walk into Petoskey.
- Oscar Gardner
Mentioned as having a strange and beautiful thing happen to him at Cross Village.
Key passages
“It was spring, there was no doubt of that now, and he did not want a woman.”
Spring had arrived, but Yogi felt no sexual desire.
Highlights Yogi's central anxiety about his lack of attraction to women.
“Football, like the war, was unpleasant; stimulating and exciting after you had attained a certain hardness, and the chief difficulty had been that of remembering the signals.”
Yogi compares the war to football, both being unpleasant but exciting once you become hardened, with the main challenge being to remember the signals.
Shows Yogi's perspective on the war as a brutal but familiar experience.
“Nobody had any damn business to write about it, though, that didn't at least know about it from hearsay.”
Yogi believes that only those with direct knowledge of war should write about it.
Reflects the theme of war and literary representation.