Every soldier carried the necessities which included can openers and pocket knives. Also, they carried large compressed bandages for easy access because the soldiers can die from wounds so quickly. These objects made them mundane soldiers in the war. They did not only carry objects that made them soldiers, but they carried things that created their identity outside the war. O’Brien begins to presents these items when he says, “First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha.” In this instance, he formulates that Lieutenant Jimmy Cross loves having romantic trips with Martha and his plans will involve Martha if he was not present in the war because he loves her.
First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross has many personality traits that shape the theme of O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried.” Lieutenant Cross shows a sensitive side throughout the story. First it is shown in his love for Martha, a girl from back home that does not love him the same way. The author O’Brien states “More than anything, he wanted Martha to love him as he loved her, but the letters were mostly chatty, elusive on the matter of love” (97). Cross would often daydream about Martha, her imaginary love kept him going. His love for her was also a huge distraction from what truly was important.
They represent the part of life that the soldier’s were hoping and dreaming about, and they are getaway from war. Women kept these men sane and safe, but also made them hopeless and
O'Brien's war stories, "The Things They Carried" and "How to Tell a True War Story" were similar in concerning the mental turmoil that Servicemen undergo while experiencing a life fighting in a war. My hands-on experiences are limited in physical contact; however; both stories are told by the narrator(s) about a letter that is being wrote to two special people of interest. In reference to Lieutenant Cross's letter from "a girl name Martha" (O'Brien p. 78), his misconception of “wishful thinking" about a virgin name Martha, he knew was mentally a myth, "the Love was only a way of signing and did not mean that he sometimes pretended" (78). However; O’Brien’s "How to Tell a True War Story," the 2nd person narrator describes his encounter about his Vietnam collogue during the time of his murder. This character uses the writing technique to "the guy's sister" (O'Brien p. 361) proves to the readers that he grieves and distraction of this incident consistently overtakes his daily focus.
Battling the war of love in his head, asnd battling the Vietnam War as well, is a great means of PTSD in the making. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, is a short story about a group of men serving in the Vietnam War. These men are all carrying different items aside from the usual necessities needed while in combat. The items they are carrying are personal effects, and gives insight on how their lives could lead if they are back home. Lieutenant Cross’s personal items however, may be the reason members of his platoon are dying.
The Things They Carried The book The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien is about a Vietnam War veteran who explains the life changing events that the members of Alpha Company as well as himself had experienced and witnessed before, during and after the Vietnam War and how these gruesome memories had impacted the lives of these soldiers. Things they will never forget and can’t seem to let go of. Although this is a fictional book it gives the reader a sense of imagery while reading, making you apart of these war events that go on in these soldiers minds. O’Brien seems to capture these dramatic moments through his writing of stories and structure in which he wrote them in, capturing the ‘truth’ of war. O’Brien begins his book by describing the things the men at war would carry with them which was a ton.
In The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien employs indirect characterization through imagery and refrain to illustrate a collective brutal rite of passage for young American men. The audience is exposed to the protagonist’s, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, experiences in the Vietnam War as he reminisces about a girl named Martha, develops a closer relationship with his comrades, and further understands the horrors of war. At the beginning of the war Jimmy is withdrawn emotionally and inexperienced; by the end of the war he sacrifices his love and fantasy for Martha for the protection and safety of his men. In this story O’Brien uses the description of specific items to give the reader a better understanding of the key characters. Using a repetitive
This essay will explore this interpretation of Haig and the generals, but in order to provide a balanced view, I will also consider the positive interpretations of Haig as a leader, as many sources from the time and recently praise him as a good leader. At the time of the war and after, soldiers criticised Haig and the generals , Haig was criticised because he made commands without being in trenches. In source B2 a soldier who had watched his friends die around him due to Haigs incompetence and bad planning, wrote “it was pure bloody murder. Douglas Haig should have been hung, drawn and quartered for what he did on the Somme. The cream of British manhood was shattered in less than 6 hours.” This suggests that he wanted Haig to be punished due to his loss of so many of his own men, but also due to his own resentment towards him.
III. Now, pick any historical/cultural situation or condition that impacted you in the book,put yourself there and in it at that time (in that period of time), and explain how you feel, what you would have done. Home-front anxiety:although the men whom were sent to war to fight against the enemy, we, the people who were left behind at home had to play a
This seizing of the flag is Henry’s ultimate rite of passage. He discards his terrified and cautious childhood and becomes an experienced, courageous individual. In conclusion, Henry’s rite of passage is, generally, the Civil War. It teaches him the hardships of life and draws out the courage deep down within his soul. Henry, at first, is timid and anxious about his potential and what would the others think about him.