War wound
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Film and Television Discussion
jeffrey-nimmo-1 — 15 years ago(July 29, 2010 01:41 PM)
At the beginning, Hazel is asked whether he was wounded in the war, and explains that he doesn't wear his purple heart because he didn't want anyone to know where he was wounded. Could it be he was "unmanned" in the war? If so, I'm not sure I understand the visits to the prostitute.
Any ideas? -
rayincumbria — 15 years ago(February 20, 2011 06:39 PM)
Interesting reply.. Yes, I to was puzzeled, as it very much imlies he had been imasculated. I guess he could still visit the prostitute for the pleasure of seeing and touching her..
But I liked the sugestion of being shot in the backside
few visible scars -
im-dck — 14 years ago(August 14, 2011 08:26 AM)
i think he wanted the shop owner to believe something like 'shot in the backside' but from the way he said it, and the crazed look, i'd say he was mentally damaged. i found humor in thinking that that is what he really meant.
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sly_3 — 10 years ago(January 23, 2016 06:54 PM)
I doubt he would be wearing his uniform if he was section 8 or AWOL; I was thinking Motes definitely had some PTSD issues.
donkeywranglertothestars.com
@sly_3 -
ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(January 01, 2025 08:07 AM)
That bit about him not wanting to wear the Purple Heart because he didn't want anyone to know where he was wounded, etc. was made up for the movie. It's not in the novel.
Could it be he was "unmanned" in the war?
Nope. It's mentioned in Chapter One of the novel the movie is based on, (
Wise Blood
, by Flannery O'Connor). Haze says the army sent him halfway around the world, and he was wounded in the chest… they told him they took the shrapnel out, but he mentions they never showed it to him, and he claims he still feels it in there, rusting away and poisoning him.