The things they carried
In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” the reader is taking along with a group of soldiers through three different parts of the Vietnam War era. The short stories cover the soldier’s experiences before, during and after their involvement in the war. O’Brien not only writes about the things they literally carried, but also about the things they carried in their mind and on their soul.
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s letters from Martha. Tim O’Brien’s Phi Beta Kappa and Harvard
Scholarship. Henry Dobbins’ girlfriend’s pantyhose. Norman Bowkers’ love for Sally Gustafson. All these were things these men carried from home; animating thoughts and objects of their innocence.
LOSS OF INNOCENCE
Tim O’Brien’s repetitive analogy of the man he killed. Azar mocking the young girl that was eerily dancing in front of the destroyed hut that contained the bodies of her burned family. Henry Dobbins threatening to kill Azar if he did not dance right while mocking her. The soldiers searching for Kiowa in the shit field. These images, feelings and memories are things they acquired and carried during their tour of duty.
REALITY
The horrific deaths of Kiowa, Ted lavender and Curt Lemon. The suicide of Norman Bowkers. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s guilt of failed leadership. Rat kiley shooting himself to get out of Vietnam. Tim O’Brien’s struggle with being a “coward” in his mind. These are the things that each soldier will carry to their death. Horrific memories and events that changed their lives forever. Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” takes the reader by the hand through several scenes of soldier’s lives before, during and after the Vietnam War and the effects it had on them.
“Works Cited”
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Outcome socialuplift.org
War is hell techbuddha.worldpress.com
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