Strategies of redemption at the Vietnam veterans’ memorial

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. creates a unique opportunity for the critic to investigate the cycle of guilt and redemption set in motion by the Vietnam War. The Memorial serves as a call to eloquence, prompting many visitors to leave messages. The form of the message is determined by the individual's choice of redemptive ritual. The interplay of authors’ goals and strategies is reflected in messages which pursue redemption...