One Man's Initiation—1917

"One Man's Initiation—1917" by John Dos Passos is a story that plunges into the lives of young American soldiers during World War I, painting a picture of excitement mixed with deep fear and thoughtful questioning as they step into the war's disarray. Martin Howe, the main character, travels from America to the battlefields of France, where he confronts the grim truths of war and struggles with the beliefs that pushed him to join. The book begins on a busy dock, buzzing with soldiers getting ready to leave for war, as Martin stands on a ship thinking about what's ahead, joking with his comrades, and chatting with women on board, but even in these light moments, there's an underlying sense of danger as talk turns to the terrors of war and deadly gases. The story quickly moves between carefree fun and serious moments of understanding about the violence of war, showing the range of feelings these soldiers go through, and through rich descriptions and conversations, Dos Passos shows Martin's inner fight as he tries to match his youthful hopes with the harsh realities he's about to face in Europe.