Part I: After leaving the war, it seems like Nick is simple happy to be alive. With that being said, all of the freedoms he lost while in the Army, he now has back. All he wants to do is enjoy the simplicity of life and suffering from PTSD the outdoors is like his medicine. He talks about having the freedom to choose what he wants to eat and where he wants to sleep because he can since he left the Army. Also, the nature is helpful because it is his escape route from his past. For example looking at the burnt town and the black grasshoppers, to me, they both symbolize the struggle and Nick sees it as his past which he is trying to leave for greener pastures. I think that the swamp represents the war because even though the river has fish in it, the fish from the swamp put up a bigger fight...