Class, War, and Masculinity in Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Michael Trask

doi:10.3368/cl.66.4.567

May 1, 2026Contemporary Literature

Class, War, and Masculinity in Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

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Key Points

This essay explores the distinct narrative of Ben Fountain’s novel, focusing on themes of class and masculinity.
Literary analysis of Ben Fountain's Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
Comparison with other narratives on Operation Iraqi Freedom
Examination of socio-economic contexts related to the war
Identifies how neoliberalism influences perceptions of masculinity in the novel
Highlights the economic challenges faced by soldiers and their families back home
Points out the juxtaposition of war experiences with domestic economic issues

Implication

Essay analyzes economic upheaval and soldier experiences in Ben Fountain's novel, indicating a unique portrayal of war.

Abstract

This essay treats Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk as distinctive among novels and films about Operation Iraqi Freedom in giving its readers as much an account of homeland economic upheavals as of a soldier’s combat experience. Billy Lynn details how neoliberalism’s logic of

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Cite This Study

Michael Trask (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0565f4a550a87e60a1e1bc https://doi.org/10.3368/cl.66.4.567

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Class, War, and Masculinity in Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Class, War, and Masculinity in Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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