Tim O’Brien lived the good american life but his experience of the Vietnam war changed it for the better and became very successful. Throughout his novel “The things they carried” it’s based on his experience of war and his point of view. He misleads people with lies and exaggerated details in order for it to been seen truthful for those who never been in war. The relationship of his life and the theme are both explained by the experience of the evilness of war and how it can take away people’s innocence, leaving others traumatized.
The novel “The things they carried” theme is to understand the struggles of a soldier and give the true reality of war by having to exaggerate with the details to make the story believable.
An experience that …show more content…
Shane Strate stated, “Although the platoon trusts him as their medic, he seems to be somewhat unstable mentally. After his friend Curt Lemon is killed, he systematically mutilates a water buffalo with his rifle. Towards the end of the novel, he comes unglued after a series of night marches and shoots himself in the foot to get out of the war”. The soldier that was described was Rat Kiley one of the characters in the novel, and his behavior became aggressive probably due to the fact that his beloved friend died and for him to have the will to shoot his own foot can be odd. This certain behavior may have occurred because being in war takes away the patience and gives anxiety of their possible outcome if they stay and for Rat Kiley, shooting his foot was the easy way out from having to deal with the fear of death. In the article “The things they carried : character list” from Cliffsnotes it was stated, “Bowker embodies the effect known as "survivor guilt." He cannot forgive himself for outliving his friends who died in battle. He feels intense culpability for Kiowa's death and cannot adjust to civilian life in his small hometown after the war. He wants O'Brien to write a story about a guy like him who cannot talk about his war-related trauma. Bowker eventually commits suicide”. Even though some of the soldiers survive the war, it is difficult for them to accept that their fellow soldiers aren’t no longer with them and it hurts them as well because they can feel as if they are responsible for their death. It can be overwhelming and it can lead them to hurting others or themselves even
The novel “The things they carried” theme is to understand the struggles of a soldier and give the true reality of war by having to exaggerate with the details to make the story believable.
An experience that …show more content…
Shane Strate stated, “Although the platoon trusts him as their medic, he seems to be somewhat unstable mentally. After his friend Curt Lemon is killed, he systematically mutilates a water buffalo with his rifle. Towards the end of the novel, he comes unglued after a series of night marches and shoots himself in the foot to get out of the war”. The soldier that was described was Rat Kiley one of the characters in the novel, and his behavior became aggressive probably due to the fact that his beloved friend died and for him to have the will to shoot his own foot can be odd. This certain behavior may have occurred because being in war takes away the patience and gives anxiety of their possible outcome if they stay and for Rat Kiley, shooting his foot was the easy way out from having to deal with the fear of death. In the article “The things they carried : character list” from Cliffsnotes it was stated, “Bowker embodies the effect known as "survivor guilt." He cannot forgive himself for outliving his friends who died in battle. He feels intense culpability for Kiowa's death and cannot adjust to civilian life in his small hometown after the war. He wants O'Brien to write a story about a guy like him who cannot talk about his war-related trauma. Bowker eventually commits suicide”. Even though some of the soldiers survive the war, it is difficult for them to accept that their fellow soldiers aren’t no longer with them and it hurts them as well because they can feel as if they are responsible for their death. It can be overwhelming and it can lead them to hurting others or themselves even