Upon reading Billy Lynn’s Long
Halftime Walk, something that struck me throughout the novel was the class
difference between the Bravos and nearly everyone they encountered in the
Dallas Cowboys stadium. The men are referred to as heroes by everyone they meet,
and yet nearly everyone they encounter has vastly more money and connections
than all of the Bravos combined.
This class distinction reaches its peak when the men meet Norm Oglesby,
the larger than life owner of the Dallas Cowboys. “Billy is thinking if you
took every person he’s ever known in his life and added up the sum total of all
their wealth, tis presumably grand number would still pale in comparison to the
stupendous net worth of Norman Oglesby” (108). He is loud, arrogant, and
believes that everything he says should be its own speech. He is the classic
stereotype of a snobbish, upper class, white, Republican American man. None of
the Bravo men particularly like Norm, but they are struck by his ability to
control a room.
This class dynamic in Billy Lynn is an interesting paradox: the old,
rich men revere and idolize these brave young soldiers. They live vicariously
thorough them. However, these soldiers only do what they do because they have
no other choice. Many of the men in the Bravo squad are a part of it because
they have to be. Billy is in the Army because it seemed like a better option to
him than jail (18). Shroom didn’t have a family to support him, Lake’s parents
were addicted to drugs and unable to care for him, and all of the other members
of Bravo came from difficult home lives as well (100).
The one person Billy meets that does not have more than the Bravos is
Hector. However, Hector is in the same boat as all of them: he is considering
joining the Army in order to better his life. “I got a kid and her moms don’t
work so it’s all on me… that’s sort of my whole point. What I got out here
sucks, so I might as well join” (72-73).
Hector is not able to make ends meet with the jobs he has, so he is
forced to consider risking his own life in order to provide for his family.
These men are all thought of as heroes, which they deserve, however, the people
who are well-off do not realize that these men only do what they have because
of a lack of other options.
I really like your point about class distinction in this novel. I would also add the part where Norm is still trying to make a movie deal with Dime and Billy. Even though Norm really ‘believes’ in the Bravos’ story and thinks it would ‘reinvigorate the American commitment to the war’ (275), he still tries to exploit the soldiers’ lower class. Albert had originally offered the Bravos $100,000 each, and then their involvement with the movie would cease. Norm thinks he can buy each Bravo with only $5,500 up front, but then promises another advance and a percentage in the deal. Not only is he trying to appear like the businessman he is, but Norm also knows that the Bravos have no money or choice, and he attempts to use this to his advantage.
ReplyDeleteNorm asks Dime and Billy: “Wouldn’t you like to have something before you go? Something to show for all your hard work and sacrifice, the magnificent service you’ve given the country?” (279) He disregards the fact that his deal short-changes the soldiers and instead reminds them that ‘hey, at least you’re getting something.’
Furthermore Norm, because he is insanely wealthy, does not have to openly worry about money. When he tries to convince the Bravos to take his deal, he is not emphasizing that they will get a larger cut once the movie does well in the box office. He instead tries to persuade them based on their ‘incredible story’ and the fact that “this is about a lot more than just money. Our country needs this movie, needs it badly” (279). Norm can afford to say that life is more than just money. The Bravos, however, have to always worry about money, one of the reasons they did join the army. Billy even ponders at one point if he should increase his GI insurance in attempt to pay his father’s medical bills if he dies while serving (256). And so, just as Maddie has already said, the class distinctions in this novel contribute heavily to the various dynamics the Bravos face.