The Things They Carried

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WEIGHT & MASCULINITY “THE THINGS THEY CARRIED” “The Things They Carried”, by Tim O’Brien, provides insight into the weight of war on soldiers and offers the reoccurring theme of masculinity both are is symbolized thought the actual items they carried. The true idea of masculinity is conveyed though the thoughts and actions of characters. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and Ted Lavender are true examples of masculinity. What they carried was partly a function of rank, partly of field specialty (O’Brien 634). Jimmy Cross carried a two-pound .45- caliber pistol. Ted Lavender carried a M-79 grenade launcher, five pounds unloaded. The ammunition weighted ten ounces per round. Lavender carried thirty-four rounds. He also carried a starlight scope which weighted about seven pound in is aluminum case. O’Brien put a strong infuses on the weight of what ever these men carried. I think that he’s trying to draw a distinct outline that shows the reader soldiers are still people with real emotions. Lavender also carried the heavy burden of fear. He was sacred. They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing- these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight (O’Brien 643). Among other things Lieutenant Cross seemed to carry a sense of weightlessness when it came to carrying anything that had to do with Martha. Lieutenant Cross humped around letters, a small good luck charm and two photographs, all things from Martha. The letters weighted about ten ounces and the pebble an ounce. O’Brien plays on the strengths of men.” They carried like freight trains; they carried on their backs and shoulder- and for all the ambiguities of Vietnam, all the mysteries and unknowns, there was at least the single abiding certainty that they would never be at a loss for things to carry (O’Brien

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