Analysis The most important personal aspect of Louie and the crew’s plane crash into the Pacific is the way Louie survives the crash. This event is the first truly unexplainable miracle in Louie’s life. Hillenbrand stops short of crediting God with miraculous intervention, but she can’t rule that out either. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 11: “Nobody’s Going to Live Through This”Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 10: The Stinking Six
Analysis Like the previous chapter, this one focuses on the constant dangers Louie and his fellow servicemen faced in WWII’s Pacific Theatre. It also signals a new regression in Louie’s emotional and mental state. The pressures of battle—and the losses inherent in war—begin to take their toll. Up to this […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 10: The Stinking SixSummary and Analysis Part II Chapter 9: Five Hundred and Ninety-four Holes
Analysis Returning to the story of Louie Zamperini, Hillenbrand delves deeper into the specific dangers men like Louie faced during WWII. Louie is sent out on several missions into enemy territory. His life has been redeemed by military service and now it’s placed at great risk by the same thing […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 9: Five Hundred and Ninety-four HolesSummary and Analysis Part II Chapter 8: “Only the Laundry Knew How Scared I Was”
Analysis Here again, Hillenbrand sets herself to the task of placing Louie firmly within the historical context of WWII. She mostly departs from the Zamperini story to provide background information about life as part of a bomber crew in the Pacific Theatre during the war. She shares navigation obstacles, B-24 […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 8: “Only the Laundry Knew How Scared I Was”Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 7: “This Is It, Boys”
Analysis Louie’s second redemption includes becoming a model military man. Given a new purpose in his life and surrounded by people who respect and encourage him, he returns to heights of success similar to what he achieved while running track. His B-24 bomber crew proves to be the best aerial […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 7: “This Is It, Boys”Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 6: The Flying Coffin
Analysis Louie doesn’t want to be drafted into war, but military service becomes something of a second redemption for him. The aimless, unmotivated college dropout suddenly finds himself back in an atmosphere where a hundred kinds of “Petes” (commanders, fellow soldiers, and especially Phil) demand that he improve, excel, and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part II Chapter 6: The Flying CoffinSummary and Analysis Part I Chapter 5: Into War
Analysis Louie’s college years at USC represent an era of regression for him. At first, he performs well as a member of the track team, but without Pete nearby, he begins to lose sight of who he is and what he can accomplish. The cancellation of the 1940 Tokyo Olympics […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I Chapter 5: Into WarSummary and Analysis Part I Chapter 4: Plundering Germany
Analysis Away from the stabilizing influence of Pete and his Torrance supporters, Louie’s old bad habits return, though in a milder form. On the luxury steamship Manhattan, he steals simply because he has the opportunity to do so. He pranks other athletes out of boredom. His emotional insecurity shows up […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I Chapter 4: Plundering GermanySummary and Analysis Part I Chapter 3: The Torrance Tornado
Analysis Pete’s intervention in Louie’s life not only redeems Louie from criminal activity, it also gives Louie an emotional center and a sense of competence and confidence he hasn’t had before. While Louie had previously been a neighborhood scourge, he now becomes a neighborhood hero. Earning his community’s respect and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I Chapter 3: The Torrance TornadoSummary and Analysis Part I Chapter 2: Run Like Mad
Analysis This chapter focuses on Louie’s first redemption, at the hands of Pete, his older brother. Using a combination of tough love and encouragement, Pete forces Louie to take up athletics—and gives his younger brother a new, redemptive purpose in life. He both challenges and helps Louie to excel, and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I Chapter 2: Run Like Mad