“The Things They Carried” is a short story based on Tim O’Brien’s experience in the Vietnam War. Tim O’Brien served in the Vietnam War for two years when he was fresh out of college in 1968. The Vietnam War was the source of a lot of destruction in the Vietnamese cities and caused a lot of death. Although the Vietnam War caused by the United States perceived responsibility to stop the spread of communism, it had negative consequences on the Americans and Vietnamese citizens alike. So much destruction and death was caused. Was the Vietnam War worth all of the deaths and destruction to stop communism?
The purpose of the Vietnam War was to stop the spread of communism in South Vietnam. A lot of American soldiers and Vietnamese citizens were killed …show more content…
He was inspired by what he saw, and what he felt in the war to write “The Things They Carried.” He also wrote this fiction story to show the audience, who never served in the war, what it was like to be part of a war. Tim O’Brien gives an interview about how a war can also affect the family members of the ones who participated in the war, stating that others can also participate in the consequences and it can impact them mentally and physically. He explains how the Vietnam War was a very intense war, and watching other people getting shot while fighting for their country and hoping that wouldn’t happen to him. As Tim O’Brien says on the interview,” after you get out from serving the war, you are a changed person. The war changes you and makes you see the world a different place” (Tim O’Brien, interview). In this quote, he explains how you are not the same person after serving the war. It can completely change you, after seeing millions of people die, after being away from your loved ones for so long. It makes everyone realize what is mostly important in life. The life in the war is similar to what people see in movies. There is always millions of deaths and destruction. Someone is always getting hurt. The people who served or wants to serve the war needs to mentally and physically prepare themselves and know that they are going in and anything can happen. The characters in The Things They Carried, carries a lot of memories with them to the war and when they go home. For example, Jimmy Cross carries a photograph of his loved one, Martha, along with letters from her on his backpack and her good-luck pebble in his mouth. According to Tim O’Brien most men carry with themselves. For example, mosquito repellent, marijuana to keep themselves calm, pocket knives, chewing gum, cigarettes, and lighters, two or three canteens of water. Kiowa, is a religious character in the story, he
The purpose of the Vietnam War was to stop the spread of communism in South Vietnam. A lot of American soldiers and Vietnamese citizens were killed …show more content…
He was inspired by what he saw, and what he felt in the war to write “The Things They Carried.” He also wrote this fiction story to show the audience, who never served in the war, what it was like to be part of a war. Tim O’Brien gives an interview about how a war can also affect the family members of the ones who participated in the war, stating that others can also participate in the consequences and it can impact them mentally and physically. He explains how the Vietnam War was a very intense war, and watching other people getting shot while fighting for their country and hoping that wouldn’t happen to him. As Tim O’Brien says on the interview,” after you get out from serving the war, you are a changed person. The war changes you and makes you see the world a different place” (Tim O’Brien, interview). In this quote, he explains how you are not the same person after serving the war. It can completely change you, after seeing millions of people die, after being away from your loved ones for so long. It makes everyone realize what is mostly important in life. The life in the war is similar to what people see in movies. There is always millions of deaths and destruction. Someone is always getting hurt. The people who served or wants to serve the war needs to mentally and physically prepare themselves and know that they are going in and anything can happen. The characters in The Things They Carried, carries a lot of memories with them to the war and when they go home. For example, Jimmy Cross carries a photograph of his loved one, Martha, along with letters from her on his backpack and her good-luck pebble in his mouth. According to Tim O’Brien most men carry with themselves. For example, mosquito repellent, marijuana to keep themselves calm, pocket knives, chewing gum, cigarettes, and lighters, two or three canteens of water. Kiowa, is a religious character in the story, he