Flashbacks In Johnny Got His Gun

In Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo tells the story of a man, Joe Bonham, who loses everything--his arms, legs, mouth, hearing, and nose as a consequence to war. Joe lost every aspect of his life that made him human, all but his mind that is; with nothing but his mind left Joe reminisces over various times in his life, which occurs in the form of flashbacks throughout the novel. Trumbo’s use of flashbacks aided in upholding a major theme and a major motif of the story. The flashbacks that take place throughout the novel act as a way to build up the one of the major themes and a major motif within the story by enhancing the story. The major theme that is enhanced using flashbacks is the nostalgia for pastoralism. The nostalgia for pastoralism