The Sympathizer

The narrator isn’t surprised that Sonny and Sofia are now a couple. He was in the Philippines for seven months and never called. Also, Sofia is neither dedicated to monogamy nor to men. Sonny gestures at the paper bag on the narrator’s lap and asks what’s in it. Sofia has gone to get another wine glass to join the pair already on the table. The narrator takes out the carton of cigarettes and the vodka, which he offers Sonny. Sonny asks about the narrator’s trip to the Philippines. Sofia, too, wants to hear about it. As he speaks, the narrator senses that they’re only marginally interested. He doesn’t tell them about his near-death experience. He sees a photo album lying open and asks about the people in the photos. Sofia says that they’re of her family. Strangely, this surprises him. He knows that Sofia has a family, but she never talked about them or showed him photos.

Sonny leans over the photo album and points out her relatives by name, including Abe, presumably her brother, who refused to fight during World War II. He was sent to prison for abstaining. Sonny mentions the injustice of the family being put in an internment camp then demanding that Abe fight for America. Sofia says that Abe left for Japan. He decided to go back to his people, just like white people told him to. Then, he found out that he didn’t quite belong there either. Sonny says that maybe he and Sofia can go to Japan one day, so that he can meet Abe.

The narrator drinks his vodka and decides to change the subject of conversation. He recalls the speeches about revolution that Sonny made back in their college days. The narrator asks why Sonny doesn’t go back to fight for Vietnam, given the things he said in his speeches. The narrator asks if Sonny is still in California because he’s in love with Sofia or because he’s afraid. Sonny feels ashamed. Sofia looks at Sonny with understanding and looks at the narrator with regret. The narrator continues to prod Sonny until Sofia declares that Sonny’s home is in Los Angeles now. She puts her hand on Sonny’s, and the narrator feels hurt by the gesture. Sonny admits that it’s impossible to live among foreign people and not be changed by them. He doesn’t agree with the narrator’s politics but respects him for going back home to fight.

The narrator can’t believe that he’s finally won an argument with Sonny, something he never did in their college days. Sofia looks into Sonny’s eyes and assures him that everything is all right. The narrator refills all of their glasses with vodka, but he’s the only one to drink. The narrator wants to say, “I love you, Ms. Mori,” but instead he says, “It’s never too late to pick a fight, is it, Ms. Mori?” They acknowledge that he’s right. However, the narrator knows from the “hungry intensity” with which she looks at Sonny that it’s all over between him and Sofia.

The narrator reports in his next letter to the Parisian aunt that the General is carrying out training and maneuvers for his nascent army in the hills east of Los Angeles, near an Indian reservation. On a napkin at his restaurant, the General sketches out his army, composed of a headquarters platoon, three rifle platoons, and a heavy weapons platoon. The narrator takes the napkin and sends it to the aunt. The General also writes down the names of the platoon commanders and officers and explains their histories. The next phase of the army’s work will be physical training, drilling, maneuvers, and turning them into a fighting unit. The narrator pledges his support.

The narrator finds himself back in uniform again and in the field. However, he’s not there as a foot soldier but as a documentarian who photographs the soldiers. The narrator sends the Parisian aunt photos of the men in uniform, along with others showing the soldiers exercising and engaging in maneuvers. The men may have looked foolish but, he warns Man, revolutions begin this way, with men willing to fight, no matter what the odds are, and volunteering to give up everything because they have nothing. Some of them, like Bon, are “certifiably insane” and have volunteered for the reconnaissance mission to Thailand. Like Bon, they have lost their families and feel that they have nothing to live for in California.

Before embarking on a ten-mile hike, the narrator and Bon smoke a cigarette. The narrator talks about the soldiers who confess to having no intention of coming back, meaning that they know that they’re volunteering for a suicide mission. Bon quips that life is a suicide mission. The narrator tells him that he’s crazy. Bon says that he feels betrayed by the American government, which has also left him feeling emasculated. At least those who are still back in Vietnam (he includes Man, still not knowing his old friend’s true allegiances) have kept their manhood. Furthermore, Bon knows that most of the soldiers won’t really go to fight; they’ll hide behind their wives and children as reasons not to go.

Rumors have already spread about the General’s new army. During the narrator’s visit to Sofia’s place, Sonny mentions reports about the secret army. The narrator claims not to have heard about it, but Sonny doesn’t believe him; he’s the General’s right-hand man. The narrator reasons that this would be all the more reason not to tell a Communist like Sonny. Sonny is cagy about being a Communist, though the narrator knows this as a game that subversives generally play. He leaves Sofia’s place and goes to sleep shortly after arriving back at his apartment. That night, he awakens from a dream, “drenched and gasping,” believing that his bed is littered with amputated ears.