The Vietnam War was a violent and brutal conflict that got the lives of thousands of Americans and sent thousands home either wounded physically or wounded emotionally by the cruelty they had to witness. No amount of training could prepare these soldiers for what they had to experience. Published in 1990 by Tim O’Brien The Things They Carried is regarded as a fictional work based on the personal experiences of American soldiers who encounter the horrific trauma both emotionally and psychologically of combat during the Vietnam War. The burdens the men carry with them throughout the 30-year war were unbearable and those who were lucky enough to survive the guilt and grief would stay within them forever.
Tim O’Brien goes into great detail about the weight of the specific military items that the soldiers carry from place to place, but the weight of these items does not even come close to the weight of the emotional baggage that lies deeper in their hearts. O’Brien describes just how much weight these men are willing to tolerate on their backs emphasizing how unbearable their situation truly was. O’Brien writes, “On their feet they carried jungle boots-2.1 pounds. Each man carried a steel-centered nylon-covered flak jacket, which weighted 6.7 pounds. They took turns humping a 28-pound mine detector, and Ted Lavender carried the starlight scope, which weighed 6.3 pounds with its aluminum carrying case” (O’Brien 2-10). These men are nomads; living on the move meaning they have no other choice then to carry their lives on their backs. These items they carry are more than just random items to them, since they have little to nothing they relate them to their homes back in the United States. This connection reminded them never to lose hope because eventually they will return home. The military items are extremely heavy putting much strain on the soldiers; almost like the same feeling they get from the fear weighing them down within. However, the lighter objects are the ones that relate to home which is the source of their hope. As they continue fighting for their country their fears become heavier and heavier that it as if their hope just disappears. Despite all the heavy mandatory weight the soldiers were carrying each one insisted on carrying their own personal items as a reminder of their life back in the United States. The feelings the men got from these personal items result in love and hope, at first. For Lieutenant Cross, he carried the emotion of love with him day in and day out. A girl name Martha was responsible for holding onto his heart. Not only would Lieutenant Cross carry two pictures of Martha as his personal item but he also would receive letters from her that were filled with images of what life could be like if he was back home in the United States. Lieutenant Cross would escape reality with these letters and daydream, “He was buried with Martha under the white sand at the Jersey Short. They were pressed together” (11). When he snaps back to reality he could feel the distance among the two and their separate worlds. It was life versus war for Lieutenant Cross who was holding a heavy burden on his heart from being away from Martha. The emotions eventually weighed Lieutenant Cross down so much that he was unable to preform his duty as a Lieutenant. The other …show more content…
They all were terrified of death and were even more terrified to show their fears. The Vietnam War did this to them, they would turn into young men just to have to leave and never look back at their old lives. They prayed to God begging him to end this horrific chapter of their lives. They carried much more than just materialist things on their back they carried the emotional baggage of death everywhere they went along with thought of grief, guilt, terror, love, and longing. They carried shameful memories, most of which left them with psychological pain such as post traumatic stress disorder. The Vietnam War ended in 1975 however, the emotional and psychological fear did not. That would remain with them
Tim O’Brien goes into great detail about the weight of the specific military items that the soldiers carry from place to place, but the weight of these items does not even come close to the weight of the emotional baggage that lies deeper in their hearts. O’Brien describes just how much weight these men are willing to tolerate on their backs emphasizing how unbearable their situation truly was. O’Brien writes, “On their feet they carried jungle boots-2.1 pounds. Each man carried a steel-centered nylon-covered flak jacket, which weighted 6.7 pounds. They took turns humping a 28-pound mine detector, and Ted Lavender carried the starlight scope, which weighed 6.3 pounds with its aluminum carrying case” (O’Brien 2-10). These men are nomads; living on the move meaning they have no other choice then to carry their lives on their backs. These items they carry are more than just random items to them, since they have little to nothing they relate them to their homes back in the United States. This connection reminded them never to lose hope because eventually they will return home. The military items are extremely heavy putting much strain on the soldiers; almost like the same feeling they get from the fear weighing them down within. However, the lighter objects are the ones that relate to home which is the source of their hope. As they continue fighting for their country their fears become heavier and heavier that it as if their hope just disappears. Despite all the heavy mandatory weight the soldiers were carrying each one insisted on carrying their own personal items as a reminder of their life back in the United States. The feelings the men got from these personal items result in love and hope, at first. For Lieutenant Cross, he carried the emotion of love with him day in and day out. A girl name Martha was responsible for holding onto his heart. Not only would Lieutenant Cross carry two pictures of Martha as his personal item but he also would receive letters from her that were filled with images of what life could be like if he was back home in the United States. Lieutenant Cross would escape reality with these letters and daydream, “He was buried with Martha under the white sand at the Jersey Short. They were pressed together” (11). When he snaps back to reality he could feel the distance among the two and their separate worlds. It was life versus war for Lieutenant Cross who was holding a heavy burden on his heart from being away from Martha. The emotions eventually weighed Lieutenant Cross down so much that he was unable to preform his duty as a Lieutenant. The other …show more content…
They all were terrified of death and were even more terrified to show their fears. The Vietnam War did this to them, they would turn into young men just to have to leave and never look back at their old lives. They prayed to God begging him to end this horrific chapter of their lives. They carried much more than just materialist things on their back they carried the emotional baggage of death everywhere they went along with thought of grief, guilt, terror, love, and longing. They carried shameful memories, most of which left them with psychological pain such as post traumatic stress disorder. The Vietnam War ended in 1975 however, the emotional and psychological fear did not. That would remain with them