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Carmina Bundang
AP English Language
Ms.Crichton P.5
2 DEC 2013

Compare and Contrast

There are many qualities that make up a person. Often, there are various point of views
of the overall self image of the person. Many can question the actions of others and assume their
intention, but can never truly know the purpose behind their action. Where Men Win Glory and
Under the Banner of Heaven illustrates the multiple styles Jon Krakauer uses to convey the
similarities of how the main characters are seen amongst common society compared to how they
see themselves, as well as the same mindsets they share.

In Where Men Win Glory, the main character, Pat Tillman starts his football career in
high school. He is challenged by his size and lack of physical fitness during his freshmen year.
He is determined to get on the team, and swears that he will play professionally. The only
reaction he got was the discouragement from his coach as he gave excuses like his size would
make it difficult[and that] he stood virtually no change of ever playing college football
(Krakauer,4). With the negativity to boost his motivation to prove his doubters wrong, Pat
Tillman started to workout constantly and began to gain muscle as well as a growth spurt. When
he was put on the varsity team he excelled in every position(14) and [became] Lelands star
player (14). People doubted his ability based on his size when they never payed attention to the
passion that made him driven to be successful in whatever he put his mind to. They thought of
him as a sweet kid with a passionate heart, but his physical attributes disregarded that, so people
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never glanced at him twice. To Pat, this was an opportunity to prove people that he had potential.
He understood the self image he had to make for himself to be respected on the field. He had to
present himself with a intimidating cast iron demeanor (17). But in reality he was a bottle full
of emotions. He was brought up to have traditional ideals like to tell the truth...stand up for the
vulnerable(17). His overall high school career and dedication had paid off because it was clear
for everyone to see that hes moving fast forward and while everyone else is functioning at
regular speed.(29). In Under the Banner of Heaven it begins with a system of beliefs that is
Mormonism, that is spread to the young girls of Utah. To the Mormon belief, the male species is
superior to the female in every aspect. That is how to separate standard for both gender roles
work- for the men to be feared and respected, and for the women to be obedient. It is common,
for girls to be kidnapped and taken as a prologist wife against her will. In other cases, where the
girl is asked on a date, the male might announce that he is going to marry her (Krakauer,22).
The word choice is announce-as in command, to be told. Practically, telling the girl that she
has no other option, than to say yes. And the sad thing is, that the girls that they prey on agree to
the marriage. They do this because they were brought up to believe that the man will take care of
her, and that he knows best because he is above her. This just adds to the already high ego of
Mormon men. In many cases, the step father, father will marry within his family, go give the girl
away to a man to make her his wife. The situations where incest is involved, the girls live in fear.
Imagine a father figure that is supposed to protect you and love you, to being a person that takes
advantage of you as he [robs] you of your childhood(23). These girls are nothing but victims
of pedophiles(23) and they refuse to believe that because they do not know any other life but
polygamy (23). Men have this mindset that they are not doing anything wrong, because that is
what they were taught. Male Mormons were taught that this is the way life was supposed to be,
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and that it would be against their Gods commandments to do anything but this. And depending
on the type of girl, some may rebel and realize that this way of life is not right. And that they
want to escape and become their own person. And others, they are too submissive and weak
minded to go against their religion.
Krakauer uses Pat Tillman to represent the obstacles he had to face as he was provoked
and put down that his dreams were unrealistic, regardless of how much he strived. But he uses
his transformation to show that anything is achievable if you never set your sights off your goal.
And that the people that doubted him, would eventually be supporting him in his professional
career, and that it would leave them with discomfort that they ever suspected anything but
greatness from him. Pat never let the fame get to his head, as he was raised to be humble. He
used the system of Mormonism to show how unbalanced the gender roles were. And how males
perceived themselves, was not how they were actually seen.