Absolution
By Alice McDermott
Summary
Absolution: A Tale of Unintended Consequences in the Shadow of War
Alice McDermott's "Absolution" transports us to Saigon in 1963, a pivotal year on the cusp of a full-blown war in Vietnam. We meet Tricia, a wide-eyed newlywed, who has accompanied her husband, a rising oil engineer on loan to US Navy Intelligence. Thrust into a world far removed from her American life, Tricia feels adrift, yearning for connection and purpose. Her world takes a turn when she meets Charlene, a seasoned expat wife and mother of three.
Charlene embodies a stark contrast to Tricia. Polished, assertive, and a touch rebellious, she navigates the world of cocktail parties and diplomatic functions with ease. But beneath the surface lies a deep-seated desire to alleviate the suffering she witnesses around her. The city's pervasive "wretchedness," as Charlene terms it, fuels her determination to "do good."
Their unlikely friendship blossoms as Charlene mentors Tricia, introducing her to a circle of American wives engaged in charitable endeavors. However, these efforts, fueled by good intentions, often lack a grasp of the cultural nuances and complexities of Vietnamese society. One such project involves collecting discarded Barbie dolls, considered a symbol of American decadence, and repurposing them as gifts for Vietnamese children.
While these activities provide a sense of purpose for Tricia and the other women, a shadow hangs over their efforts. Their husbands, though not directly involved in combat, are implicated in the growing war effort. This creates a dissonance between their comfortable expat lives and the harsh realities just beyond their doors.
A significant turning point comes with the arrival of Dominic, a young American soldier stationed in Saigon. Haunted by the horrors he has witnessed, Dominic finds solace in volunteering at a local hospital. Charlene, captivated by his plight, becomes fixated on helping him. She arranges for Dominic to meet with Tricia, hoping to forge a connection that might ease his burdens.
Their bond deepens, blurring the lines between friendship and something more. However, this intimacy comes at a cost. Dominic's wife and child are back in America, creating a web of emotional complexities. As the war escalates, the pressure mounts, threatening to shatter the fragile sense of normalcy these characters have built.
The narrative unfolds through Tricia's reflections in letters written decades later to Charlene's daughter, Rainey. As Tricia revisits their time in Saigon, she grapples with the weight of their choices. The miscarriage she suffered during that year takes on a new significance as she ponders what might have been. The unintended consequences of their actions, particularly Charlene's relentless pursuit of "good deeds," come into sharp focus.
McDermott masterfully portrays the emotional toll of war on those on the periphery. While the men are physically distant from the battlefield, the conflict permeates every aspect of their lives. Tricia and Charlene struggle with a sense of powerlessness, yearning to make a difference but ultimately limited by societal expectations and a lack of understanding about the Vietnamese culture.
The novel doesn't shy away from exploring the complexities of human relationships. Tricia and Charlene's friendship, though genuine, is fraught with tension. Their contrasting personalities and approaches to life create friction, particularly as their involvement with Dominic deepens.
Dominic serves as a heartbreaking portrayal of the human cost of war. Haunted by his experiences, he embodies the psychological ramifications for those caught in the conflict. His story adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative, forcing the reader to confront the true cost of America's involvement in Vietnam.
"Absolution" is more than just a historical novel. It's a meditation on the search for meaning and the burden of good intentions. The characters grapple with questions of forgiveness, not just for others but also for themselves. Tricia's act of writing to Rainey can be seen as a search for absolution for the choices they made all those years ago.
Through her evocative prose, McDermott paints a vivid picture of Saigon in the early 1960s. The stifling heat, the opulent social gatherings juxtaposed against the poverty and devastation outside, all contribute to a sense of unease and instability.
Ultimately, "Absolution" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that reminds us of the enduring impact of war, not just on the battlefield but on the lives of those who exist on its fringes. It compels us to question our own motives and the unintended consequences of our actions, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.
With her ninth novel, National Book Award winner Alice McDermott attempts to understand the role that the wives of American soldiers played in the Vietnam War. The book begins in 1963 Saigon, with Tricia, a shy newlywed, whose lawyer husband is working for Navy intelligence as a “civilian advisor.” She soon finds herself forming an unlikely alliance with Charlene, a seasoned military wife and mother of three, who shows her how to support her husband without being subservient. Tricia struggles to find her own purpose until she and Charlene begin “helping” the people of Vietnam. It’s not until 60 years later, when Tricia is contacted by someone from her past, that she begins to question her own culpability in the conflict. Absolution is a moving story about the obligation, sacrifice, and regret that comes with living on the periphery of history. —Shannon Carlin
Review
A Haunting Look at War's Shadow: A Review of Alice McDermott's "Absolution"
Alice McDermott's "Absolution" transports us to Saigon in 1963, a time of simmering tensions on the cusp of the Vietnam War. We meet Tricia, a wide-eyed bride adrift in a foreign land, and Charlene, a seasoned expat wife yearning to alleviate the suffering she witnesses around her. Their unlikely friendship forms the heart of this poignant novel, exploring the complexities of human connection, good intentions gone awry, and the lingering scars left by war.
McDermott's prose is both lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of Saigon. The suffocating heat, the opulent social gatherings of the American community, and the constant undercurrent of tension create a palpable sense of unease. Tricia and Charlene, despite their contrasting personalities, find solace in each other's company. Tricia seeks guidance, while Charlene craves a sense of purpose beyond the confines of expat life.
Their efforts to "do good" through charitable endeavors expose the limitations of their understanding. The repurposed Barbie dolls, intended as a gesture of kindness, highlight a cultural disconnect. This theme of good intentions with unintended consequences is further explored through their involvement with Dominic, a young soldier haunted by the war's brutality.
Charlene becomes fixated on helping Dominic, blurring the lines between compassion and something deeper. This creates a web of emotional complexity, particularly as Dominic's backstory reveals a family back home. McDermott masterfully portrays the emotional toll of war, not just on the battlefield but on those living within its shadow.
The narrative unfolds through Tricia's reflections in letters written decades later to Charlene's daughter, Rainey. This epistolary approach allows for introspection and a sense of distance as Tricia grapples with the weight of their choices. Lost opportunities, the miscarriage that forever changed her life, and the ripple effects of their actions all come under scrutiny. The act of writing itself becomes a search for absolution, not just for Charlene but for herself.
"Absolution" is a powerful story about the yearning for meaning and the burden of good intentions. It delves into the complexities of human relationships, exploring female friendship, the challenges of navigating societal expectations, and the moral ambiguity of wartime choices. The characters grapple with questions of forgiveness, not just for others but also for themselves.
While the novel doesn't shy away from the horrors of war, its focus remains on the emotional landscape of those on the periphery. Through Tricia and Charlene, we witness the psychological impact of living in a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Their struggles highlight the human cost of war, a cost that extends far beyond the battlefield.
McDermott's "Absolution" is a haunting and thought-provoking novel that leaves a lasting impression. It compels us to question our motives, the unintended consequences of our actions, and the enduring impact of war on individuals and societies alike. It's a must-read for those seeking a nuanced exploration of war's impact and the search for redemption in the face of past mistakes.
