Summary of “Night Life”
O'Brien goes more into the experience of night patrol. The men pop pills and vitamins trying to stay away in the silent blackness. He tells how Rat Kiley's personality changed during night patrol. He was paranoid about the insect bites and scratched himself until he bled. He hallucinates in the darkness and finally has a breakdown. He shoots himself in the foot so he can get out of the war. Lt. Cross says he will say it was an accident.
Commentary on “Night Life”
Rat Kiley was a gifted medic, so when he cracks up, it illustrates that they are all in danger. It is just a matter of time before any one of them flips. This story comments on Tim's cold revenge in the previous story. He watches himself become someone else.
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