About Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny Got His Gun is an anti-war novel by American author Dalton Trumbo and published in 1939. It tells the story of Joe Bonham, a young American soldier who is hit by an artillery shell during World War I and loses all his limbs, eyes, nose, mouth and ears. He is taken to a hospital where he is kept alive but is unable to communicate.Joe spends his days in a hospital bed, his only connection to the outside world being the nurses who care for him. He is able to hear, but cannot speak or see. As he lies in his hospital bed, he reflects on his life and the events that led him to where he is now. He thinks about his family, his friends, and the girl he loved. He remembers the first time he went to war and how he thought it was going to be an adventure.He also remembers the moment when he was hit by the shell and how he felt as he lay on the ground, helpless and alone. As he lies in his hospital bed, he comes to the realization that he is now a monster, a freak that no one will ever want to see or hear from again.One day, a doctor comes to see Joe and tells him that there is an experimental operation that could possibly restore his ability to speak and see. Joe is hesitant at first, but he eventually decides to go through with the operation.The operation is a success and Joe is able to see and speak again. He is also able to walk, although he is still missing his limbs. He is taken to a rehabilitation center where he meets other soldiers who have been wounded in the war.As he adjusts to his new life, Joe starts to feel like he is a burden to those around him. He decides to write a letter to the President, telling him about the horrors of war and how he believes that it is wrong. He also tells the President about the experiment that restored his ability to speak and see.Joe’s letter is published in a newspaper and he soon becomes a national figure. He starts to speak out against the war and is even invited to testify before Congress.However, Joe’s health starts to decline and he is not able to continue his anti-war campaigning. He spends his final days in the hospital, surrounded by the nurses who cared for him. He dies peacefully, knowing that his message has been heard by the world.
