Magic Stockings

"Henry Dobbins was a good man and a superb soldier." This is how "Stockings" starts. Henry Dobbins is a soldier that O'Brien is with in his platoon. He wears his girlfriend's stockings tied around his neck when he goes into battle or feels the need for the comfort that they provide. It is interesting how superstition plays a role in our lives. Some people are more superstitious than others but everyone seems to have little habits that they do throughout there lives. O'Brien talks about how Dobbins at night will sleep with the stocking wrapped around his face like a baby, and while O'Brien is writing this you can almost hear the envy in his voice. O'Brien says "They were like body armor, he thought."He envies the magic that comes from the stockings and the mental and spiritual protection that they provide. I feel like most soldiers have some kind of trinket that they use to give them comfort when they need it. I liked the stockings story because the whole platoon feels the effect of the stockings and when Dobbins girlfriend breaks up with him he says "No Sweat, the magic doesn't go away." The importance of this chapter may be understated compared to the other "heavier" chapters of the book. But the significance of this small chapter cannot be ignored. It provides soldiers with hope and ties them to a good feeling back home that can be crucial in a time when they need encouragement and inspiration. Henry Dobbins a good man and superb soldier is portrayed as a normal man who brings a lot to his platoon and fellow soldiers. And this chapter though short is one of the most important ones in the whole book.