Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

The time period during the Vietnam War was a very hard time for many people, especially for the men who were physically involved in the war. The Soldiers. Tim O’Brien, the author of The Things They Carried, served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1970. The Things They Carried is a collection of short stories in which the stories of the men who accompanied him are told. In this novel, we are introduced to Tim O’Brien himself, and numerous amount of other soldiers and their stories. In the opening of this novel there is immediately a death of one of the soldiers. Throughout the novel we are told about the things that each character carried with them. We learn that many times it is not just physical things that they carried with them but feelings such as fear, love and expectations. “They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first place, nothing positive, no dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid the blush of dishonor. They died so as not to die of embarrassment” (O’Brien 20) To begin with, the first character the reader is introduced to is Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. …show more content…
Jimmy Cross was just a sophomore in college when he signed up for the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He was never really interested in the war nor did he want to be in it, but he signed up because his friends were doing it. Due to him not wanting to be a part of the war, when several men are placed under his charge, he many times questions his own decisions and actions. Throughout his journey, he carried with him his love for Martha which was an English major from his college. Even though he was in love with her and carried her letters, pictures in his backpack she never demonstrated love for him back. Although he believed his love was not corresponded, he carried her memories very close to his heart. The feeling of being in love with Martha helped and knocked down Lt. Jimmy Cross. Although many times people say that love always brings you up this was not his case. You would expect for him to be strong, and confident since he was the leader, but he was the complete opposite. His love for Martha many times carried him to another world, he would daydream about her and completely block out reality. These daydreams led to the death of one his soldiers, Ted Lavender. After this incident, he confronted the responsibility of being leader, until another daydream came along. The pictures and letters which Lt. Jimmy Cross carried around with him of Martha meant everything to him, which is why he carried them around all the time. He also carried around her lucky pebble in his mouth. These objects many times led to his day dreams. He often reminiscences on the moments, which were not many, that he shared with his beloved Martha. Many times he just sits and thinks about her. He wonders whether or not Martha is a virgin, and also if his love will ever be corresponded. He frequently remembers his first and only date with his beloved. “A dark theater, he remembered, and the movie was Bonnie and Clyde, and