A true war story is hard to tell, however, Tim O’Brien is able to convey the truth of war through his short story “The Things They Carried,” by making the reader feel the emotions of a Vietnam War soldier. Jimmy Cross, the main character of O’Brien’s work of fiction, struggles to come to terms with a long distance crush he has on Martha. Although they are not in a relationship, Cross fantasizes about her constantly. So much so that he actively puts the lives of his men in danger because he is too absorbed in his thoughts about Martha. After the death of Ted Lavender, Cross realizes that “imagination [is] a killer” (O’Brien, 5). He needs to quit envisioning a false life with Martha and rather, turn his thoughts to the wellbeing of all his cohort.
…show more content…
Cross says, “it [is] very sad…the things men carr[y] inside. The things men [do] or [feel] they [have] to do” (11). Cross is referring to men of war having to hide their fears in order to appear confident and composed. Cross and his men “carr[y] the common secret of cowardice barely restrain, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects it [is] the heaviest burden of them all” (10). Since fear is a common human emotion, it would be natural for Cross and his men to externalize their fears. However, under the pressure and circumstance of war, Cross and his cohort believe that they need to hide their fears. Even though it might not be necessary to display false confidence, they want to “avoid the blush of dishonor” that is cowardice (10). Although Cross and his cohort might come across as indifferent or even courageous, that isn’t the truth. The truth behind O’Brien’s war story is that Cross and his men have to restrain their fears, which, in return, makes them seem …show more content…
After Cross blames Ted Lavender’s death on his fabricated fantasies about Martha, he makes a promise to “not be loved but to lead” (12). He understands that his responsibility to his men comes before his romantic relationships. Therefore, Cross discards Martha, and in return, expresses a more stoic personality; a common masculine trait. However, Cross and his cohort choose to come across as apathetic and even courageous because they are unable to show their true cowardice. When a fellow soldier dies in war, there is no time to grieve, the war continues despite the loss. In order to deal with the loss of Lavender, Cross and his cohort have to cover their sadness with false courage. Throughout O’Brien’s work of fiction, he tries to tell as close to a true war story as possible. This allows the reader to feel the emotions of a Vietnam War soldier. While reading this work of fiction, one can feel the pain of loosing Martha, the false courage Cross emits, the sadness in the death of Lavender, and the fear for every man’s life. Through reading “The Things They Carried,” the reader becomes empathetic to the soldiers of the Vietnam War because they have a small sense of the emotional roller coaster it was to be a soldier in that
Cross says, “it [is] very sad…the things men carr[y] inside. The things men [do] or [feel] they [have] to do” (11). Cross is referring to men of war having to hide their fears in order to appear confident and composed. Cross and his men “carr[y] the common secret of cowardice barely restrain, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects it [is] the heaviest burden of them all” (10). Since fear is a common human emotion, it would be natural for Cross and his men to externalize their fears. However, under the pressure and circumstance of war, Cross and his cohort believe that they need to hide their fears. Even though it might not be necessary to display false confidence, they want to “avoid the blush of dishonor” that is cowardice (10). Although Cross and his cohort might come across as indifferent or even courageous, that isn’t the truth. The truth behind O’Brien’s war story is that Cross and his men have to restrain their fears, which, in return, makes them seem …show more content…
After Cross blames Ted Lavender’s death on his fabricated fantasies about Martha, he makes a promise to “not be loved but to lead” (12). He understands that his responsibility to his men comes before his romantic relationships. Therefore, Cross discards Martha, and in return, expresses a more stoic personality; a common masculine trait. However, Cross and his cohort choose to come across as apathetic and even courageous because they are unable to show their true cowardice. When a fellow soldier dies in war, there is no time to grieve, the war continues despite the loss. In order to deal with the loss of Lavender, Cross and his cohort have to cover their sadness with false courage. Throughout O’Brien’s work of fiction, he tries to tell as close to a true war story as possible. This allows the reader to feel the emotions of a Vietnam War soldier. While reading this work of fiction, one can feel the pain of loosing Martha, the false courage Cross emits, the sadness in the death of Lavender, and the fear for every man’s life. Through reading “The Things They Carried,” the reader becomes empathetic to the soldiers of the Vietnam War because they have a small sense of the emotional roller coaster it was to be a soldier in that