The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien Essay -- Literary Analysis

The Things They CarriedTim OBrienThis work of cunning is a war story, with love, tragedy and personal responsibility, giving details of what unmatched carries, survives and ponders during events that take place out of our control. The Thing Things They Carried, by Tim OBrien depicts pitying beings just like us that dont get a choice of what happens around us notwithstanding how to survive with the things we hold dear(p) that help us make it through. It also shares with us the fear, risk and wake of the death of one of their men and the personal responsibility the narrator feels as the loss of one of the men under his care. The setting of the story is intact as it takes place in the village of Than Khe. The war of Vietnam was a tragic, mussy war that affected many lives. The setting brings readers to a geographic jam that these and countless other men have spent months and years experiencing invigoration and death, tragedy and camaraderie, fear, loss and the ultimate test of c haracter and strength. Without it, the story wouldnt have the same effect. The use of vivid, descriptions and imagery of the things each soldier has with him gives the readers a better understanding of what the weight load and burden these men underwent. The writer describes to us the necessities of what they carried The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 asshole openers, scoop shovel knives, heat tabs, wrist-watches, dog tags, mosquito repellant, chewing gym, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military pay Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. (626-627)Not only did they aim these things, but each man had specific t... .... He would insist on clean weapons. He would confiscate the remainder of Lavenders dope.(636)Tim OBriens story depicts human nature of mistakes, guilt, humility, personal responsibility and things we can safeguar d against. It doesnt always mean that we can control invigorations events, but we can make choices to prevent these things. It also shows how we recognise with the difficult challenges that we face. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross uses Martha to cope, while Ted Lavender uses dope. atomic number 1 Dobbins uses food, while Kiowa relies on his faith. The story gives us insight on war, but also insight on human nature itself. Works CitedLiterature, An presentation to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing, X.J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia, The Things We Carried pg 625How To Tell A True War Story Metafiction in The Things They Carried, Catherine Calloway, http//web.ebscohost.com