As a result of the trauma of fighting in World War II,
Tayo's dreams are haunted, and he is troubled by an inability to
separate memories from dreams from reality. He is caught in a past
moment that keeps on taking over both his sleep and his waking hours. Much
of Tayo's distress comes from his confusion of his uncle Josiah
with the Japanese soldiers he was killing. This confusion results
in part from the similar physical characteristics of Native Americans
and Japanese. The physical similarity is most likely due to a common
ancestry. Tayo's recognition of this similarity demonstrates not
a realization of ancient migratory patterns, but of the interconnectedness
of all people. However, he cannot identify it as such. Tayo only
feels that he is terribly confused, and must be partially crazy.
This feeling has been reinforced by his time spent at a Veteran's
Hospital. Although he left the hospital with a stronger awareness
of himself and a greater desire to live than he had at the very
ending of the war, Tayo's encounter with Harley shows that all of
the native Americans who fought in World War II were traumatized
in a way that has not been addressed. The men self-medicate with
alcohol, which dulls their senses, but also unleashes the sadness,
fear, and anger which they still carry.
