Scott Anderson’s novel, Triage, portrays the different effects that war and death can have on people. Mark, Joaquin, and Elena endure different experiences with war and death and are affected in different ways. Mark’s traumas originate from his time as a war photographer. His ability to capture war’s most grueling moments grants him the opportunity to shoot in many war-torn areas such as Beirut, Sri Lanka, Kurdistan, and Uganda. Mark’s first experience of war is in Beirut. He describes the fighting in Beirut as, “Total madness” (119). During a battle which Mark is photographing a boy runs to Mark looking to him for help. Mark is in no position to help the boy and soldiers are closing in so Mark hides in the doorway of a building, “I duck down into the doorway, cover my head. And I’m crouched there, waiting, but nothing happens. It feels like ten minutes go by and nothing happens. So I look up and he’s still standing there” (120-121). Shortly after standing up the boy is shot right in front of Mark’s eyes. Joaquin asks Mark how this event makes him feel and Mark responds, “I guess I felt responsible somehow” (122). Years after this Mark still struggles to move on. Joaquin asks Mark, “Are you cured? Is the boy in Beirut gone?”(123). Mark responds, “I don’t know” (123). Mark’s inability to move on from the deaths he witnesses is one of the major symptoms of his PTSD. He has flashbacks of those events and struggles to maintain relationships in fear of losing them. Mark experiences another traumatic event at a seaside picnic for cadets in Sri Lanka. He describes his experience to Joaquin, And later, after Mark told of how he had arrived late to the secluded seaside picnic to see the cadets, boys really, in their little blue uniforms stretched out under the palm trees as if napping; of how it was only when he had walked into their midst, when they lay around him in every direction, that he realized they were dead (154). Mark looks outside and sees that the weather is similar to that day in Sri Lanka, triggering a flashback. Mark had turned to look out one of the living room windows to see that a bright day had spread over the city, and he had flexed and unflexed his jaw until he felt the pain in his head, behind his eyes, as if pain itself might sear away the vision (154). Mark denies feeling anything after realizing the cadets are dead.
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However, it’s obvious that he was in pain and is still in pain because of his response to Joaquin asking him if he felt something, “Fuck you, Joaquin” (155). This response demonstrates that Mark is unable to talk about what he saw. This hinders him from making progress towards moving on. This event, along with a culmination of others, prevents Mark from being able to walk. Mark’s experience in Kurdistan has the greatest effect on him. Mark’s best friend Colin dies from an explosion while they are hiking in the mountains. Mark tries to save him but is unable to. Colin’s death weighs so heavily on Mark that it creates a block in his mind that renders him unable to walk. Mark thinks it’s a physical problem but the doctor informs him, “It seems pretty clear to me that what happened to you in Kurdistan, the physical injury is now being complicated by some kind of psychosomatic reaction” (98). Mark’s time as a war photographer exposes him to some of the world’s worst horrors. These experiences add up and take a toll on Mark’s psyche until his mental state of is compromised. Joaquin’s traumas originate from his experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the passing of his family. Joaquin loses his friends, family, and village to the war. One effect this has on Joaquin is that he loses his faith in God. While talking with Mark in the hospital he admits that he’s an atheist, “Oh good heavens, no. I’ve been an atheist for many years now” (123). Joaquin is unable to move on from the horrors he witnesses and as a result he goes from being a Catholic to an atheist. The death of Joaquin’s wife has an immense impact on his ability to return to a normal
However, it’s obvious that he was in pain and is still in pain because of his response to Joaquin asking him if he felt something, “Fuck you, Joaquin” (155). This response demonstrates that Mark is unable to talk about what he saw. This hinders him from making progress towards moving on. This event, along with a culmination of others, prevents Mark from being able to walk. Mark’s experience in Kurdistan has the greatest effect on him. Mark’s best friend Colin dies from an explosion while they are hiking in the mountains. Mark tries to save him but is unable to. Colin’s death weighs so heavily on Mark that it creates a block in his mind that renders him unable to walk. Mark thinks it’s a physical problem but the doctor informs him, “It seems pretty clear to me that what happened to you in Kurdistan, the physical injury is now being complicated by some kind of psychosomatic reaction” (98). Mark’s time as a war photographer exposes him to some of the world’s worst horrors. These experiences add up and take a toll on Mark’s psyche until his mental state of is compromised. Joaquin’s traumas originate from his experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the passing of his family. Joaquin loses his friends, family, and village to the war. One effect this has on Joaquin is that he loses his faith in God. While talking with Mark in the hospital he admits that he’s an atheist, “Oh good heavens, no. I’ve been an atheist for many years now” (123). Joaquin is unable to move on from the horrors he witnesses and as a result he goes from being a Catholic to an atheist. The death of Joaquin’s wife has an immense impact on his ability to return to a normal