HJLVIETNAM

//The Vietnamization of New Jersey// Throughout the twentieth century, many plays were written criticizing the social ramifications of the Vietnam War and corresponding rebellion on the family unit. Among these are //The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild: A Road Trip// and //The Vietnamization of New Jersey//. Both are highly critical of the effect of the family and parenting on the behavior of the children. Within //Tulsa//, the protagonist is affected by her hippie mother, dead father, and military step-father. And in //Vietnamization//, the sons David and Et are influenced through their confusing mother, apathetic father, and harsh uncle. Although they deal with similar ideas, there are some important differences in the two, as well as an important similarity. First, it is important to note that //Vietnamization// is much more exaggerated in both the actions of the parents and the resulting actions of the children. While //Tulsa// was certainly over the top in content, //Vietnamization// took it a step further. //Tulsa// had crazy and fantastical characters, but they tended to act in a mostly logical manner. These people had profound thoughts and acted naturally, given the extraordinary circumstances. However, //Vietnamization// provided extraordinary circumstances and equally ridiculous characters. They acted in a completely illogical and unbelievable manner that can only be described as bizarre. Because the parents acted as strangely as they did, the children acted even crazier than their role models. This primary difference in their exaggeration presents two very different plays. Next, the familial unit of //Tulsa// mostly resolves their issues, while the family of //Vietnamization// most certainly does not. //Tulsa// 's family is most certainly dysfunctional, but by the end they have resolved their issues, as their craziness seems to slowly subside. However, in //Vietnamization// the issues are not resolved whatsoever. Death is the only agent of resolution for their family, and the story provides much of that for the family. The bizarreness never slows down, and the characters seem to be even more averse to each other as the play continues. The ability of //Tulsa// to resolve issues within the family presents an optimistic tone, while //Vietnamization// continues with an extremely pessimistic mood throughout. Finally, one important similarity of both plays is its presentation of negative qualities in the children from the Vietnam War era. Both //Tulsa// and //Vietnamization// make the parents heavily affected from the war, passing this trait on to the next generation. It is this generation that appears to have the most profound change, as it is the basis of both plays. Both plays are very singular in this nature, for neither shows many, if any, positive results of the war on the next generation. They are confused, indecisive, and erratic. However, as previously mentioned, //Vietnamization// 's negative qualities are much more pronounced and extreme than //Tulsa// 's. This common quality of negativity ties together two otherwise very different plays. Overall, it is important to note that the plays are excellent in critiquing the Vietnam War and its effect on the American people. //Tulsa// took the changes in a more optimistic and hopeful tone, while //Vietnamization// is much more pessimistic and morbid in content. This pessimism is reflected in its extremism and exaggeration, especially when compared to //Tulsa//. However, their stance on the negativity of the war on the people brings them together and makes for a very interesting analysis. The affect of the war on the parents most certainly had an effect on the behavior of the next generation.