Tim O'Brien, in his collection of stories "The Things They Carried" (1990), recounts his experiences of not only the events that took place around him, but the individuals involved in the war alongside him. O'Brien identifies physical items with emotional meanings that each of the men kept with them, especially letters and themselves. To emphasize the items, O'Brien inserts potentially pathos-driven reasons why they carry what they do.
O'Brien suddenly begins his novel with the introduction of what the men in his platoon carry on them. He states that "First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha..." Physically with Lieutenant Cross were the written letters, accompanied mentally with the thoughts of her. The letters
O'Brien suddenly begins his novel with the introduction of what the men in his platoon carry on them. He states that "First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha..." Physically with Lieutenant Cross were the written letters, accompanied mentally with the thoughts of her. The letters