The novel “In The Lake of Woods”

The Book “In the Lake of Woods”

The book “In the Lake of Woods” tells the tales of numerous people whose actions further cause other events. The book is enhanced by a sequence of events that happen. In the picture, Paul Wade, John’s father, commits suicide as a result of his intense affection for her son. Even more so, the novel’s subject is strangely controlled by the traumatizing wars. The novel’s contents consist solely of proof gathered from individuals, works of fiction, and actual events. As a result, I will talk about the cause and effect situations in the book in this essay.

Wade’s Love and Its Consequences

Wade’s love for his son is what drives him to attempt suicide. The main character’s father John Wade became a protagonist in the war against trauma. Wade perseveres numerous abuses. In a more disturbing incidence, Wade witnessed the unpopular murder in the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. During the massacre, the American soldiers were ordered to kill Vietnamese women and children with dangerous explanations. Despite the fact that some soldiers ignored the orders, others killed innocent citizens without appropriate reasons. It is in the action that John remembers killing two innocent people; an unarmed woman who was carrying a hoe and a colleague. The flashback from his actions haunts him to the point of taking his life.

The Influence of John’s Past on His Trauma

It is the inference of John’s previous reactions that causes trauma. The novel quotes several instances of traumatic experiences given by Sigmund Feud. The memories are stressful and disturbing that they could not be accommodated in mind with ease in any moment. John feels unsecured and guilty of his memories during the Vietnam massacre and as a father. Besides, John has a conversation with his father as if he is alive and he sees the visions of My Lai war in hallucinations as well. In any trial of suppressing the feelings and memory, John lives enjoy a short-lived success as a father, husband, and a politician. The guy yells out sleep and after the evidence of what happened in Vietnam. Guilt makes Paul Wade’s relationship with everyone breaks including her wife, Kathy. In other circumstances, his worries become traumatic that seems he finally realizes who he is. Therefore, balancing between the job experience and family matters leads him into losing his life to avoid hurt.

John’s Drinking and Actions

The traumatic experiences lead John into drinking alcohol and other pleasures of life. In the chapter ten of the novel, John exhibits signals of alcoholism. The closer family develops concerns since drinking caused problems when his father was still alive. To our disappointment, John appears to get along with himself. He would comfortably combine alcohol, political campaigns and sexual interruptions without issues. “One evening, while John is still in the midst of his political career, John and Kathy are at a political party.” The alcohol makes John becomes more romantic, he goes with Kathy to restaurants, does shopping and drive home. Besides, he makes love to her than before.

John’s Actions and Kathy’s Disappearance

John’s magical tricks and actions form the hypothesis for Kathy’s disappearance at night. After watching John’s behavior for some time, Kathy decided that John was beyond her control. She took a boat and sailed into an unknown location where it would be impossible for John to access her. The author tells us that during the night before Kathy ran away, John woke up abruptly and shouted, “Kill Jesus.” After that, he proceeded to boil water for tea. Instead of drinking his tea, he poured the hot water onto the top of a tree, killing it on the spot. Besides, he boils more water and takes it to the bedroom. He hardly remembers what he did, but recalls that he approached the boathouse around the lake. Such weird actions got Kathy suspicious that he would do more harm to her, therefore decided to flee.

The Love That Transfers

It is because of the love Paul Wade showed John when he was young that John transfers to her wife, Kathy. In the physical look, John appeared to be shy and uncomfortable with a beautiful woman. However, he grows to be a responsible father and husband. Moreover, he seems to be more than Paul Wade as his philanthropic actions surpassed giving to the poor but also sympathizing with the disabled. He regrets killing an innocent man and the Weatherby because he was instructed to. He applies the magic tricks in decorating the love with Kathy. He uses the examples of two snakes in the letters he used to send to Kathy while on a mission in Vietnam.

Conclusion

In summary, the analysis of cause-effect in the novel “In The Lakes of The Woods” reveals how one event led to the other. For instance, John’s father commits suicide due to his love for his son. Paul Wade feels guilty of allowing John to take part in Vietnam’s Massacre that killed innocent lives. Secondly, John’s magic actions at night make Kathy run away. John boils water and pours it on top a tree, killing it instantly. He also shouts “Killing Jesus.” These phrases make Kathy rethink about her safety in the house.

Work Cited

O’Brien, Tim. In the Lake of the Woods. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006.