“The Things They Carried”- People are inclined to display a confident image of themselves because they fear that if they do not, others will see them as weak.
Device Concrete Detail Commentary
Personification of intangibles to represent the true burdens of war “They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could never be put down… They carried their reputations. They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first place, nothing …show more content…
Device Concrete Detail Commentary
Dialogue about Mary Anne’s clothing, contrasting her position to that of the soldiers “…She shows up with a suitcase and one of those plastic cosmetic bags. Comes right out to the boonies. I swear to God, man, she’s got on culottes. White culottes and this sexy pink sweater. There she is… [she] seemed tired and somewhat lost, but she smiled” (O’Brien 86, 89). Rat spoke with the rest of the soldiers about Mary Anne, explaining how she looks out of place. She looked like she was completely unaware of the war because of the “culottes” and “pink sweater” that she was wearing. Although she came from the same culture as they did, she looked alienated because of her unusual choice of clothing. This represents how a correct understanding is crucial to connecting with others.
Symbolism of Mary Anne returning from an ambush contrasting her previous “self” and herself after
Device Concrete Detail Commentary
Personification of intangibles to represent the true burdens of war “They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could never be put down… They carried their reputations. They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first place, nothing …show more content…
Device Concrete Detail Commentary
Dialogue about Mary Anne’s clothing, contrasting her position to that of the soldiers “…She shows up with a suitcase and one of those plastic cosmetic bags. Comes right out to the boonies. I swear to God, man, she’s got on culottes. White culottes and this sexy pink sweater. There she is… [she] seemed tired and somewhat lost, but she smiled” (O’Brien 86, 89). Rat spoke with the rest of the soldiers about Mary Anne, explaining how she looks out of place. She looked like she was completely unaware of the war because of the “culottes” and “pink sweater” that she was wearing. Although she came from the same culture as they did, she looked alienated because of her unusual choice of clothing. This represents how a correct understanding is crucial to connecting with others.
Symbolism of Mary Anne returning from an ambush contrasting her previous “self” and herself after