For the past week and a half I have been reading Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. The whole book has a strong plot and defined themes, but one paticular aspect of the novel that sticks out at me is the protagonist Ishmael. Ishmael has had a rough past and now, although it is far over and done with, seems to be stuck in it. He is still not over the fact that his childhood love Hatsue left him (for reasons not at all personal) and is not over the killings he was forced to pursue in the war. Because he is living in his past, it is very hard for Ishmael to have a life in the present. Although he may not be diagnosed Ishmael is showing all symptoms of a disease called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress often relive memories of their time in war, and distance themselves from people and places that remind them of those times. In the case of Ishmael he is constantly thinking about and reliving his time in World War II and it continually effects his day to day life. Ishmael witnessed a lot in that war, including his best friend bleed to death. "Fifty yards away he lay in the surf pleading in a soft voice for help...He sat there and watched Eric roll over in the surf and face the sun. The boy bled to death and then his lef floated a few feet away." (p. 245) If this kind of stress does not cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder I'm not sure what could. As a defense mechanism Ishmael currently writes about other people's problems instead of havng a life himself. Unless he can get treatment and learn to move past his hardships, Ishmael will be stuck in this rut forever.