The story follows Billy Lynn, a young soldier who has come back from the Iraq War. His unit is on a victory tour in the US. They are to be part of a big halftime show at a football game. It shows the contrast between the soldiers' real experiences in war and how they are perceived back home. Billy is dealing with his own trauma and the somewhat false glorification they are getting during the tour.
It reflects the soldiers' situation by showing the gap between their war experiences and how they are presented to the public. For example, during the halftime show, they are made to look like simple heroes, but their real traumas are hidden.
The disconnection between soldiers and civilians. In the story, during the halftime show, the soldiers feel out of place among the civilians, which is a real - life issue.
The main themes include the idea of sacrifice. Soldiers like Billy Lynn sacrifice a great deal, yet the public may not fully understand it. Another theme is the difficulty of transitioning back to civilian life. The halftime walk setting emphasizes how out of place Billy Lynn feels among the civilian world during the big event.
Billy Lynn is obviously the most important character. He is the protagonist through whose eyes we experience the story. His journey from the war zone to the halftime show and his inner thoughts and feelings are central to the narrative.