The term war carries the social connotation of an over glorified battle in which one gallantly humps off into battle in search of becoming an embodiment of the perfect soldier. As Tim O’Brian explains in his novel “The Things They Carried,” no amount of ribbons, medals, or other accolades can replace the agony, misery, and remorse one could feel during a war. The glamour of war is intricately dispersed through the common act of human nature in the novel. On the battle field, the act of killing someone can be a felicitator towards a solider enabling them to become in tune with their animal like instincts. They’ll forget empathy and pity towards another individual and lean more towards carrying out their responsibility as a soldier; having to
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O’Brien, an infantryman at the time, allows us to look through his eyes of all the adversities and sufferings that went on during this time. The author begins the story by explaining what the physical items that soldiers carried were. Gum, cigarettes, lighters, photographs, rations, and something special to each person. “Dave Jenson carries a toothbrush, dental floss, and soap due to his obsession with hygiene. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross of Alpha Company is carrying letters from a girl named Martha that he loves from back at college.” These items were unique to each soldier and only meant something to the person carrying it. The war was one that took an emotional burden on both sides. Many of the soldiers were just young men looking to perform their American duty and defend their country. War is different than what stories or Hollywood portrayed it as. It takes on a different form when experienced up close and in person. A soldier’s mental and physical health begins to take a toll as they reluctantly hump through the heated jungles. Some mentally have to fabricate humor even out of the most horrific things they’ve seen. “Their behaviors and jokes are meant to help them hide from the fear of death. Sander 's moral to Lavender 's story is ludicrously insufficient—and just further emphasizes that there is no moral. It could have happened to any of them.” Ted Lavender’s death is one that contains sadness and irony in it. Just before he was shot and instantly killed, he always took tranquilizers in fear of feeling
O’Brien, an infantryman at the time, allows us to look through his eyes of all the adversities and sufferings that went on during this time. The author begins the story by explaining what the physical items that soldiers carried were. Gum, cigarettes, lighters, photographs, rations, and something special to each person. “Dave Jenson carries a toothbrush, dental floss, and soap due to his obsession with hygiene. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross of Alpha Company is carrying letters from a girl named Martha that he loves from back at college.” These items were unique to each soldier and only meant something to the person carrying it. The war was one that took an emotional burden on both sides. Many of the soldiers were just young men looking to perform their American duty and defend their country. War is different than what stories or Hollywood portrayed it as. It takes on a different form when experienced up close and in person. A soldier’s mental and physical health begins to take a toll as they reluctantly hump through the heated jungles. Some mentally have to fabricate humor even out of the most horrific things they’ve seen. “Their behaviors and jokes are meant to help them hide from the fear of death. Sander 's moral to Lavender 's story is ludicrously insufficient—and just further emphasizes that there is no moral. It could have happened to any of them.” Ted Lavender’s death is one that contains sadness and irony in it. Just before he was shot and instantly killed, he always took tranquilizers in fear of feeling