he had taken part in the slaughter of the Japanese. (McKenzie's Boots p.94) It is this type of mentality, no matter how cruel it is, that a soldier in war must have to survive. If Rod did not think this way, he would never be able to kill the enemy and keep himself alive. It is a weakness to show emotion and to let one's morals interfere because that one moment where one hesitates could lead to instant death.Not everyone can have the mental strength that is needed to endure a time of war. Even for those who do have great mental strength, there can be times when it is not enough. This is where having a good friend during war can play an important role in survival. Having a companion can keep one's head up and more importantly keep one motivated to keep on going. In King Rat, it is the King himself who is the good friend to the prisoner Peter Marlowe. The King's friendship with Marlowe helped him greatly to cope with his surroundings and the situation that he was in. He had given Marlowe a sense of new hope, that it was worth it to try and survive.In the few short days he had known the King, a rare friendship had developed. Peter Marlowe knew, too, that though all three men welcomed the King's wealth and help, their liking for him was due mainly to the man himself. When you were with him he poured out strength and confidence. You felt better and stronger yourself-for you seemed to be able to feed on the magic that surrounded him. (King Rat p. 116)This very well shows how much impact the friendship of the King has had on Marlowe. If he was having doubts about himself or whether or not he would get out of camp alive, the King was making life easier for him. As for McKenzie's Boots, Rod himself is the friend who is helping a fellow soldier to cope with the war, even though he is not aware of the aid he is providing. By letting his fellow soldier nicknamed Nugget read the letters that he received regularly from back home, he...
