The Great Santini

Over the break I opened up a The Great Santini, a novel by Pat Conroy. Its
is about an Ace marine fighter pilot Bull Meecham and his family of four
children. This mans children have loads of resentment for him because
every year or so the children must uproot their entire lives and move to a
completely new place. This resentment is counter balanced by Bull's rigid
dicipline and his wife's unwavering love and devotion to him and the
family. Vershinin undoubtedly has had to move his family all about Russia.
In fact this could be the very reason she is so miserable and wishes to
kill her self so often. As the children in the novel explain it is so
difficult to get close to any one and then move away from them so quickly.
They kids question why they should make friends when those friends will be
dead to them in another year or so. The connection between my wife and I
isn't good to begin with. This may have been redeemable except for the
fact that my career takes away all of her friends and other sources or
comfort and love at random times in her life. She is completely alone. No
wonder she wishes to kill herself. To make matters worse, I am almost
wholly responsible for her misery.
Another interesting topic brought up in this book is how officers
lead. The protagonist in the book is considered one of the best
fighter pilots the army has. That being said, he behaves like a
jack ass often and shoots off his mouth when he shouldn't. When
this man leads it is through intimidation and display of power.
However, men that he started in the marines with with have
already surpassed him in rank. These men lead with their
intelligence and wit and were Masters at knowing when it was
smart to bite your tongue and listen. How to appear to be exactly
what their superiors and everyone around them wanted. This
brought me back to what Bates said about Vershinin. He may not be
the best fighter, but he is the best at being what everyone needs
him to be.
This got me to thinking- What is Vershinin molding himself to be
for each or the sisters. For Olga he may be trying to assure her
that her father was a wonderful soldier taught him to be a
fantastic soldier. His current rank is a reflection of that
initial training he received. I think his fills a rather large
vacuum in Masha's life by becoming her lover and Ideal man. What
happens when parts of one role interfere with another. When
infidelity stops me from looking like the best soldier I possibly
can be in act four, I have to strive against Olga who is using
things I am ashamed of as proof of my poor discipline.