Two birds with One Stone

(O'Brien, 76)

Literary Term: Allusion

" Well that's Nam, he said. Garden of Evil. Over here, man, every sin's real fresh and original."

This statement is making two possible allusions by using the phrase "Garden of Evil". This may be a possible spin-off of the Garden of Eden, the paradise of the Creation story, supported by the discussion of sin in the second half of the sentence. Additionally this allusion supports the moral conflicts of war and killing. In contrast, this may be making a reference to a 1954 Western titled The Garden of Evil. The plot of this film included a "garden" or a mine site that Indians have decided is full with evil spirits. The allusion towards the film would fit the fear and awe the men hold towards the land. In my opinion, I think the allusion of the Garden of Eden better fits the novel, especially this scene of the killing of the baby buffalo. Support for a connection towards the Garden of Eden can also be found in a passage earlier on the page: "We had witnessed something essential, something brand-new and profound, a place of the world so startling there was not yet a name for it" (O'Brien, 76). However both allusions work.