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Chapter 45
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Going After Cacciato, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Storytelling
Vietnam and the Chaos of War
Obligation vs. Escape
Discontinuity and Trauma
Survival and Self-Preservation
Summary
Analysis
The chapter opens with Doc announcing that “he” has “split.” As Berlin and Doc talk, it becomes clear that Doc is talking about Lieutenant Corson. He and Sarkin have left Paris, taking with them everything in the apartment were Berlin and Sarkin were planning to live. Berlin is speechless—he can’t believe that Sarkin would leave him without so much as a goodbye. Doc produces a note, which Corson and Sarkin left in the apartment. The note says, “Heading east. A long walk but we’ll make it. Affection.” Berlin realizes that Corson and Sarkin are planning to return to Vietnam. Doc scoffs—they’ll never make it, he insists.
The chapter begins with a stunning betrayal—Sarkin and Corson have left together. While O’Brien foreshadowed this potential romance at several points, it’s crushing to read that Sarkin has abandoned Berlin, especially with our knowledge that Berlin is probably making this up. Even in his imagined storyline, he ends up being abandoned and betrayed. It seems that Sarkin was always essentially self-interested, and using the soldiers—the enemies of her country—to her own advantage.
Active
Themes
With Lieutenant Corson gone, Oscar Johnson becomes the soldiers’ official commanding officer. He orders everyone to stake out Cacciato’s hotel and wait for him to leave the building. The soldiers take their guns and prepare for Cacciato. Berlin leads them to the hotel where he found Cacciato. They wait for hours, until it’s well past midnight.
It’s official now, but Johnson has effectively been the troops’ commanding officer for some time now—Corson hasn’t done any actual leading since the first chapter of the book.
Active
Themes
Oscar tells Berlin and the other soldiers to act as lookouts. He walks away. Some twenty minutes later, Berlin feels a gun jammed into his back—it’s Oscar, who’s ambushed his own troops to show them what poor soldiers they are. Oscar angrily tells Berlin, Doc, and Eddie that they’ll need to obey him at all costs. He also tells Berlin to “go home”—he doesn’t think Berlin will be able to handle the “messy stuff” with Cacciato. Berlin insists that he must stay, and Oscar reluctantly agrees, muttering that Berlin has grown “new balls.”
Active
Themes
Oscar directs his soldiers to proceed inside the hotel. Berlin leads the soldiers up the stairs to the door where he saw Cacciato. Oscar gives Berlin his “big rifle,” and tells him to open the door.
Active
Themes
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Berlin pushes open the door (unlocked) with his new rifle. Inside, there is only darkness. Berlin feels himself getting weak and sick. He drops to the floor, and hears someone say, “Jesus.” He also hears the sound of someone running. He smells burning plaster. Berlin hears the sound of “a dozen rounds” going off, though it’s not clear who fired them.
Active
Themes
The narrative flashes back many months, to the night that Berlin and the other soldiers were supposed to arrest Cacciato on the hill in Vietnam. Stink and Harold Murphy are still present, and Doc tells Berlin to relax—Berlin is suffering from “the biles” once again. Berlin, remembering what has happened to Cacciato, confesses that he regrets what he’s done. Doc replies, “It’s over,” and hands Berlin a canteen of Kool-Aid. Berlin remembers that he was holding the big rifle earlier in the night. He apologizes and says, “I didn’t mean to.” Doc smiles, but Oscar mutters, “Dumbo.” Stink says, “We had him.”
Active
Themes
The next day, the soldiers proceed through Vietnam. Lieutenant Corson sends a radio message in which he reports that Cacciato is missing in action. The soldiers talk about the possibility that they’ll be stationed at an observation post by the sea—“easy duty.”
Active
Themes
Later in the night, Berlin wakes up to find Lieutenant Corson sitting next to him. Corson tells Berlin, “I guess it’s better this way.” Together, they discuss Cacciato’s desertion, and the possibility that Cacciato would have succeeded in walking to Paris. The odds of such a thing are “miserable.” Nevertheless, it’s possible that Cacciato could make it—“Maybe so,” Lieutenant Corson says.
