The line between truth and fantasy is inherently equivocal because reality and perception are entirely different from one another. Say that perception is an ellipse and reality a circle. In an ellipse, the possibilities for shape differences are infinite. But while any two given ellipses are not necessarily ever the same, two given circles will always be similar. Intrinsically, people’s perceptions always have a possibility for differentiation between one another, but the underlying truths will always be the same. In The Things They Carried, different perceptions are certainly present, but the underlying messages of the stories are what make the book true. Though being a “work of fiction” may imply that the stories like Sweetheart of the Song
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A crucial underlying message to understand is that even though Rat Kiley’s story may not be based on true facts per se, it’s message is true, which serves the story’s purpose. Tim O’Brien, the narrator explains that he and other soldiers listening were often skeptical of the legitimacy of Rat’s stories. However, Rat didn’t seem to care whether the soldiers thought the facts of the story were true or not, he wanted them to obtain the understanding of the war that he had obtained. “‘You don’t believe it?’ he’d say. ‘Fine with me. But you don’t know human nature. You don’t know Nam” (93). Rat’s purpose in telling the story of Mary Anne Bell was to teach O’Brien and the other soldiers about Vietnam and help them gain the understanding of the messages the story holds. Though the soldiers question his credibility as a true storyteller, Rat’s indifference to their believing of his stories show how the stories are true regardless of the facts. The purpose of the story is to portray messages to give the reader a better understanding of “Nam,” so the semantics, in this case, are what’s important - not the “facts” of the story by which the message is delivered. Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong shows how The Things They
A crucial underlying message to understand is that even though Rat Kiley’s story may not be based on true facts per se, it’s message is true, which serves the story’s purpose. Tim O’Brien, the narrator explains that he and other soldiers listening were often skeptical of the legitimacy of Rat’s stories. However, Rat didn’t seem to care whether the soldiers thought the facts of the story were true or not, he wanted them to obtain the understanding of the war that he had obtained. “‘You don’t believe it?’ he’d say. ‘Fine with me. But you don’t know human nature. You don’t know Nam” (93). Rat’s purpose in telling the story of Mary Anne Bell was to teach O’Brien and the other soldiers about Vietnam and help them gain the understanding of the messages the story holds. Though the soldiers question his credibility as a true storyteller, Rat’s indifference to their believing of his stories show how the stories are true regardless of the facts. The purpose of the story is to portray messages to give the reader a better understanding of “Nam,” so the semantics, in this case, are what’s important - not the “facts” of the story by which the message is delivered. Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong shows how The Things They