Death is the natural conclusion of life and is arguably one of the most random variables in life. An early death could symbolize potential that was not tapped, such as an incomplete college application, a father who never got to give his child away during a marriage or a baby who never got the chance to take his first breath. Just like life is unpredictable so is death and the way people grieve is just as unique. In the short story “The Things They Carried” written by Tim O’Brien, the plot is set during the Vietnam War where young men were sent overseas to prevent communism. Other than the war many more things were lost and some of which should have been left there were also brought back from Vietnam. This analysis looks into the burden of
