The Meaning of \"His Self-Created Icon for Salvation in Peacetime\" in The Sorrow of War

What does Kien mean when he refers to Phuong as \"his self-created icon for salvation in peacetime\"?

A. Phuong represents Kien's vision of happiness after the war

B. Phuong is a symbol of Kien's past regrets

Answer:

A. Phuong represents Kien's vision of happiness after the war

In the novel "The Sorrow of War" by Bao Ninh, Kien is a soldier who fought in the Vietnam War and Phuong is his former lover. When Kien refers to Phuong as "his self-created icon for salvation in peacetime," he means that she represents a kind of idealized version of love and happiness that he hopes to achieve once the war is over.

The phrase "self-created" suggests that Kien's idealized image of Phuong is something he has constructed in his own mind, perhaps as a way to cope with the trauma of war. The phrase "icon for salvation" suggests that Kien sees Phuong as a kind of savior, someone who can rescue him from the pain and suffering of the war. Lastly, the phrase "in peacetime" implies that Kien sees Phuong as a symbol of the peaceful, happy life he desires to have once the war is over.