Metaphor

"A lost ball, he thought. Tired players searchign through the rouguh, sweeping back and forth in long systematic patterns" (pg 160). This metaphor is found in chapter17 as Lt Cross' men are searching for the lost body of their friend Kiowa. As the soldiers wade through a muddy field knee-deep in water, Lt. Cross imagines they are like golfers searching for their ball in the rough. This metaphor is really effective because it portrays the idea of hopelessness and longing to accomplish the impossible. An unending and annoying requirement of golf- which may be the reason why I'm not so fond of the sport. Similar to finding a needle in a haystack. But in the end, the soldiers are able to do just that. They find the body of Kiowa (or atleast what was left of it). It was really sad how O'Brien described the way that the search became less about finding Kiowa and more about being able to get out of that field. I think this metaphor helped me understand how the soldiers were feeling; aggrevated, tired, and doubtful just as a losing golfer would feel as he searches for his lost ball.