History Literature / JohnnyGotHisGun

A 1938 novel by DaltonTrumbo that became a rallying point for the political left during WorldWarII. It follows a young man named Joe Bonham, who, after becoming grievously injured during WorldWarOne, is left deaf, blind, dumb, and without any limbs. Throughout the book, Joe reminisces about the life he lost, waxes philosophical on war and conscription, and tries desperately to communicate with the doctors keeping him alive. It's Much BetterThanItSounds.

* FateWorseThanDeath: Let's say that you're blind, deaf, can't move because you have no limbs, can't talk aside from banging your head in Morse code and can't even tell if he's dreaming or not. Now imagine having to live this way for what seems to be several years. That's Joe's situation in a nutshell.

A 1938 novel by DaltonTrumbo that became a rallying point for the political left during WorldWarTwo. It follows a young man named Joe Bonham, who, after becoming grievously injured during WorldWarOne, is left deaf, blind, dumb, and without any limbs. Throughout the book, Joe reminisces about the life he lost, waxes philosophical on war and conscription, and tries desperately to communicate with the doctors keeping him alive. It's Much BetterThanItSounds.

* ArmiesAreEvil: A nurse realizes that Joe is banging his head against the headstand in Morse Code. But she doesn't know Morse. So she brings in an officer to translate. When the officer realizes that Joe is asking to be either displayed as a monument to the horrors of war or permitted to die, all his response is missing is EvilLaughter - probably because he doesn't want the nurse to interfere.

* HopeSpot: When Joe [[spoiler: finally manages to get his anti-draft message across to the people.]]
* IAmNotShazam: The protagonist's name isn't Johnny, it's Joe. The title of the book comes from a patriotic song sung during the war.

** Trumbo stated this in a ''New York Times'' interview shortly after the ''Johnny Got His Gun'' movie came out and it's been repeated ad nausem. But no one ever seems to have looked into it.

* OuterLimitsTwist: The military officer's response to Joe's request to be put on display to show the public what happens to people like him who are unwillingly sent out to die: ''What you ask is against regulations. Who are you?'' Leads right into the DownerEnding.

* AuthorTract: Generally regarded to have been [[TropesAreNotBad done right]], although YourMileageMayVary.

* FilkSong: {{Metallica}}'s "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgGTTtR0kc One]]". They even purchased the rights for the movie to use it in the video.

* BasedOnATrueStory: Trumbo claims he came up with the idea for ''Johnny Got His Gun'' after reading an article about the Prince of Wales' visit to a soldier who had lost all of his limbs and senses in a Canadian veterans' hospital.

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->"There's nothing noble about dying. Not even if you die for honor. Not even if you die the greatest hero the world ever saw. Not even if you're so great your name will never be forgotten and who's that great? The most important thing is your life, little guys. You're worth nothing dead except for speeches. Don't let them kid you any more. Pay no attention when they tap you on the shoulder and say come along we've got to fight for liberty, or whatever their word is. There's always a word."

!! ''Johnny Got His Gun'' contains the following tropes:

* TheFilmOfTheBook: A film adaptation was made in 1971, written and directed by Trumbo.

** He stated this in a ''New York Times'' interview shortly after the ''Johnny Got His Gun'' movie came out and it's been repeated ad nausem. But no one ever seems to have looked into this.

* BasedOnATrueStory: Trumbo claims he came up with the idea for Literature/JohnnyGotHisGun after reading an article about the Prince of Wales' visit to a soldier who had lost all of his limbs and senses in a Canadian veterans' hospital.

** He stated this in a ''New York Times'' interview shortly after the ''Johnny Got His Gun'' movie came out and it's been repeated ad nausem. But no one seems to have looked into whether this incident with the Prince of Wales actually happened.

* BasedOnATrueStory Trumbo: came up with the idea for Literature/JohnnyGotHisGun after reading an article about the Prince of Wales' visit to a soldier who had lost all of his limbs and senses in a Canadian veterans' hospital.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Did you know that the draft is morally heinous, especially because it forces [[StealthPun average Joes]] to kill people they have no real personal qualms against? Of course, SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Yes, even in this book, there's the part when the nurse manages to communicate to Joe by tracing words on his chest. The words? ''Merry Christmas''. That whole chapter is a CMOH, in fact.

* MisaimedFandom: It's not as much anti-''war'' as it is anti-''draft.'' Although it is plenty of both.
** Also, Trumbo was a socialist. When WWII began in 1939, he found some right-wing groups were using his book as a message for why the United States should keep out of the war. This convinced him not to have the book republished until after WWII had ended.
** Some of their fan letters were disturbing enough that he turned them over to the FBI. [[PoliceAreUseless After giving them a casual glance,]] [[WhatTheHellHero they decided not to pursue matters and began an investigation into Trumbo instead.]] [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished Bringing this attention to himself led to him ending up on the HUAC blacklist.]]

* {{Squick}}: When Joe is trying to communicate to a nurse by banging his head in Morse code, the nurse misinterprets him and thinks he wants a handjob. So she gives him one.
** Then, of course, there's what's ''left'' of Joe's face.
*** And the rat gnawing at him. Or was that part AllJustADream?
**** Sometimes the details of Joe's condition can go from {{Squick}} straight into HighOctaneNightmareFuel.
* TearJerker

* {{Homage}}: {{Metallica}}'s song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgGTTtR0kc One]] is this to the novel.

* TheFilmOfTheBook

* IAmNotShazam: The protagonist's name isn't Johnny, it's Joe.

* {{Homage}}: {{Metallica}}'s song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgGTTtR0kc ''One'']] is this to the novel.

* {{Homage}}: {{Metallica}}'s song ''One'' is this to the novel.

* ContemplateOurNavels