Robert Olen Butler Missing

This is the story of an American soldier who stays in Vietnam after the war.
He is photographed by a journalist and his picture is posted in a newspaper a year later. This triggers anxiety because
he has created a new happy life in Vietnam with his new Vietnamese family and this photo risks disrupting that
happiness.
This story is one of acceptance and belonging, of finding family and home.
The title reflects the character’s inner conflict, rather than his desire to return to his homeland. He is unhappy that is
labelled as “missing“. The term “missing“ implies a sense of loss or yearning to return and that is not how he feels.
[ Short story on teams]
The following are some distinct features in Robert Olen Butler’s short story Missing that you can emulate/copy in
your own writing.
Distinct Feature Example
Starts the narrative with an object. “It was me you saw in that photo across a sugar cane field“
(newspaper containing his photo) then
uses the object to expand the story by
delving into his past
“but you could see my blond hair, even blonder now than when I leaned my rifle
Hair motif – symbolises identity. against a star apple tree“
blond hair characteries the narrator as “she rubbed her hands through my hair, calling it sunlight’
an American
The markedly visible blond hair which “the smell of my daughter’s hair washed from the big pot in our back yard to
made him a target for the French catch the rainwater“
photographer “should have gone black,
by rights“ he remarks, avowing the and I don't know why I was caught by her hair at that moment but it is long and
degree of assimilation he feels in it has this color that belongs to no one else here, not my wife, not me
Vietnam-Sense that he is ashamed of his her hair neither dark nor light
American identity -wants to be
Vietnamese (symbolised by the dark “Except for the blond hairs on my knuckles, and I looked at my arms and there
was a forest of blond hair on this dark arm“
hair) but his blonde hair gives him away
Stream of consciousness “I was smoking by the edge of the jungle and some French journalist, I think it
was, took that photo with a long lens, and you couldn't even see the cigarette
style of writing mimicking the way in my hand but you could see my blond hair, even blonder now than when I
people think- gets inside the character’s leaned my rifle against a star apple tree with my unit on up the road in a
head)
terrible fight and I put my pack and steel pot beside it and I walked into the
trees“

Colour imagery matching the “with skin the color of this dirt street moments after a rain“
context/landscape of the village
“her hair is the brown of the dried tobacco, not black but the color of what we
grow and prepare here“
show don’t tell/ subtle hints. “There are children in this house, and they sleep each night in great fear and
they have places on their bodies that are the color of the sky in the highlands
Places on their bodies = bruises? Hints of of Vietnam just after the sun has disappeared.“
physical abuse?
Butler only subtly hints at childhood
trauma never says it ( show don’t
tell)

Questions:
Provide a short summary of the story.
The passage depicts the internal struggle of a narrator who, after being featured in a photograph during the Vietnam
War, faces the consequences of his past. The speaker, now living in Vietnam with a family, grapples with the impact
of the photograph published in an American newspaper, forcing him to confront memories of his life in America and
the Vietnam War.
How does Butler begin the story and what is the effect of this?
Butler begins the story with a revelation: “It was me you saw in that photo...“ This direct admission immediately
engages the reader, setting a confessional tone. The effect is an immediate connection between the narrator and
the audience, establishing a sense of intimacy and vulnerability.
Identify other distinct features that Butler uses effectively?
Vivid Imagery: Butler employs vivid descriptions and sensory details to paint a picture of the Vietnamese village, the
people, and the internal landscape of the narrator.
Metaphors and Symbolism: The use of metaphors, such as "the great bland jaws of that house," adds depth to the
narrative. The hair motif and the swing from the narrator's childhood carry symbolic weight, contributing to the
story's richness.

What does the hair motif symbolise?

The blond hair on the narrator’s arms becomes a symbol of his American identity, a physical remnant of his past. The
contrast between the dark skin and blond hair represents the dichotomy between the narrator’s current life in
Vietnam and his previous life in America.

What does Butler hint about the narrator’s past? How does he do this?
The narrator hints at his past through memories of his time in America during the Vietnam War, suggesting a complex
history. The use of flashbacks and reflections on the photograph reveals the narrator’s internal conflict and his
struggle to reconcile the different aspects of his identity.
Why does the narrator feel uncomfortable about being labelled ’missing“?
The narrator feels uncomfortable about being labelled ’missing’ because it threatens the stability and identity he has
established in Vietnam. The label resurrects memories of the war, potentially jeopardizing his current life and
relationships.

What might the swing from the narrator’s childhood memory symbolise?
The swing from the narrator’s childhood memory symbolizes a desire for escape and freedom. The repetitive motion
of the swing suggests a yearning for a simpler time, contrasting with the complexities of the narrator’s current life.
It becomes a metaphor for the narrator’s internal struggle and his attempt to distance himself from his past.

What structural device does Butler use to end the story ?

The structural device used to end the story is a return to the present moment. The narrator walks away, leaving the
reader with a sense of unresolved tension. This open-ended conclusion invites contemplation and reflection, allowing
readers to infer the ongoing internal conflict within the narrator.

Creative Task (Writing Portfolio)

Experimenting with an object -Notice how Robert Olen Butler begins his narrative with an object?

Think of an object that has a story and a memory for you. Write a short imaginative recreation of this memory (1-2
paragraphs) E.g. your object could be your grandmother’s ring, when you look at it, you are reminded of a time when
she was wearing it etc. Describe this memory in detail using the five senses (imagery)
Try to include colour imagery linked to the setting of the memory the way Butler does in his story!

In the corner of my jewellery box, nestled among the trinkets and memories, lies a Māori necklace, its intricate
design a portal to a distant moment. The pendant, carved from dark, lustrous pounamu, holds the weight of history
and whispers of an adventure beneath the Southern Hemisphere skies. The memory unfurls in the vibrant hues of
Rotorua, New Zealand, where the air is laden with the scent of geothermal wonders. I recall the rich greens of the
native ferns that framed the entrance to a small artisan shop, where the necklace found its way into my possession.
The Māori artist, hands weathered by tradition, carefully explained the significance of each symbol etched into the
jade.
As I run my fingers over the cool surface of the pendant, I am transported to the warmth of the sun casting a
golden glow on the red earth. The necklace dangled from my neck, the greens of the landscape harmonizing with the
verdant hues of the carved symbols. The air buzzed with the vibrant energy of Māori culture, and the necklace
seemed to absorb the essence of the land. In the quiet of my room, the necklace conjures the memory of a fiery
sunset over Lake Taupo. The colours dance in my mind – the burnt oranges and deep purples reflecting off the
water, mirroring the swirls and curves of the pendant. The pounamu, now a fusion of earthy colours, holds the
whispers of the Māori storytellers, their tales interwoven with the threads of the necklace.

That Māori necklace, cradled in the soft velvet of my jewellery box, is not just an object; it is a display of memories.
The greens, reds, and golds of that day in Rotorua persist in the carved patterns, preserving a moment when culture,
nature, and a piece of art converged in a transcendent dance.