Diana Bonilla
AP English Lit
Mrs. Nellon
12 September 2015
The Things They Carried Free Response Essay Prompt 3 Throughout the story, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien speaks and leads us through his experience and participation in the Vietnam War. He speaks about the time he is drafted until the time that he revisits Vietnam, although the story is not told in that order. In the chapter, “On the Rainy River,” Tim O’Brien walks us through his emotional reaction to being drafted for the Vietnam War. His motivations for wanting to escape the war and his motivations for eventually joining the war all lead back to a theme of guilt, embarrassment and shame. The chapter, “On the Rainy River,” displays guilt and shame when dealing with a war. …show more content…
I went to the war (Pg. 58).” He believes that he is a coward because he ended up going against his own beliefs. He was against the war. No part of him wanted to go. Instead of only considering his opinions and beliefs, he primarily focused on what his family, friends, and the rest of his community would think about him leaving. They were somewhat accountable for his decision since they played a great part in it. He did not base his decision on his better judgment but on what he thought the opinions of others were going to be. He did not know for certain that they would judge him. As he was writing this chapter he was not concerned about what others thought. He could now give his thoughts, and his opinion. He included this line to demonstrate what he think about his own …show more content…
In this chapter, he talks about all the reasons he has for not wanting to go. He was in school and he had a job. While he was in school, he concluded that he was against this war. When he received his draft notice he was unsure of what to do. He was caught between staying home to take part in the war, and leaving his hometown and go to Canada. The only part that he was uncertain of was leaving his family in the dark. He ended up leaving his town. When he arrived at the Tip Top Lodge he was forced to face his fear. He had to decide whether or not to go through with his plan to leave or go back home and join the war. The man who ran the lodge, Elroy, helped him decide, although he didn’t say much to him. They hardly spoke, they knew nothing about each other, but O’Brien felt that this man knew the reason as to why he was there. If he did know, he didn’t say anything about it throughout his stay. O’Brien’s motivations for wanting to escape the draft and ultimately joining the war dealt with his perception of what others would say about it. His decision depended upon what his family, friends, and community would say if he left or if he went to the war. His decisions were solely based on the opinion of others instead of his own beliefs. He chose to do what he was told was right, not what he actually thought was
AP English Lit
Mrs. Nellon
12 September 2015
The Things They Carried Free Response Essay Prompt 3 Throughout the story, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien speaks and leads us through his experience and participation in the Vietnam War. He speaks about the time he is drafted until the time that he revisits Vietnam, although the story is not told in that order. In the chapter, “On the Rainy River,” Tim O’Brien walks us through his emotional reaction to being drafted for the Vietnam War. His motivations for wanting to escape the war and his motivations for eventually joining the war all lead back to a theme of guilt, embarrassment and shame. The chapter, “On the Rainy River,” displays guilt and shame when dealing with a war. …show more content…
I went to the war (Pg. 58).” He believes that he is a coward because he ended up going against his own beliefs. He was against the war. No part of him wanted to go. Instead of only considering his opinions and beliefs, he primarily focused on what his family, friends, and the rest of his community would think about him leaving. They were somewhat accountable for his decision since they played a great part in it. He did not base his decision on his better judgment but on what he thought the opinions of others were going to be. He did not know for certain that they would judge him. As he was writing this chapter he was not concerned about what others thought. He could now give his thoughts, and his opinion. He included this line to demonstrate what he think about his own …show more content…
In this chapter, he talks about all the reasons he has for not wanting to go. He was in school and he had a job. While he was in school, he concluded that he was against this war. When he received his draft notice he was unsure of what to do. He was caught between staying home to take part in the war, and leaving his hometown and go to Canada. The only part that he was uncertain of was leaving his family in the dark. He ended up leaving his town. When he arrived at the Tip Top Lodge he was forced to face his fear. He had to decide whether or not to go through with his plan to leave or go back home and join the war. The man who ran the lodge, Elroy, helped him decide, although he didn’t say much to him. They hardly spoke, they knew nothing about each other, but O’Brien felt that this man knew the reason as to why he was there. If he did know, he didn’t say anything about it throughout his stay. O’Brien’s motivations for wanting to escape the draft and ultimately joining the war dealt with his perception of what others would say about it. His decision depended upon what his family, friends, and community would say if he left or if he went to the war. His decisions were solely based on the opinion of others instead of his own beliefs. He chose to do what he was told was right, not what he actually thought was