From the year 1955 to 1975, the American Army fought in the Vietnam War. Tim O’Brien highlights his experience and the experiences of others in The Things They Carried. This first person narrative goes through events that O'Brien and his unit lived through, and he then discusses later in the book what emotions and feelings they had after the war. His purpose is to depict how bloody can be war, but more importantly, he is trying to show what men have to live with after the war is long gone. I believe that O’Brien’s accounts of the war give a clear portrayal of what the soldiers had to deal with before, during, and after their stay in Vietnam.
The Things They Carried takes us through the life of O’Brien and the rest of his unit. It depicts the tough, individual journey that Tim went through after receiving his draft letter and also delves into detailed stories and memories. The social problems that Commander Jim Cross faced are brought into the light, in regards to his awkward relationship with a woman named Martha. The book examines the lives of Ted Lavender, Lee Skunk, Kiowa, Norman Bowker, Rat Kiley, and Dave Jensen as well. These men died in the war or faced major psychological problems after. By going into their stories, O’Brien gives a larger picture as to what happened during his service.
One key aspect of the book that makes it enjoyable, is its ability to depict the human mind. When I am reading through the book, I feel as though my brain is in sync with O’Brien’s. His chapters don’t necessarily follow any particular chronological order. He slips from time to time, not sticking to one story or experience for too long. At one point, he discusses the thoughts that went through his head after killing a man, and the next chapter he discusses the PTSD another comrade of his experienced after coming home to the states. Just like a mind jumps from thought to thought, so does his style of writing. When a soldier returns home, like Norman Bowker, his mind is scrambled. Norman couldn’t save his friend Kiowa in a awful storm. He lives with the guilt, and O’Brien suffers the same feelings as well. His thinking influences his form and helps the reader understand the war.
The characters in the story are also synonymous with a classic grade in school. There are the jokesters, the serious, progressive students, the addicts, the wallflowers, the timid, and the brave. Lee Skunk and Dave Jensen are the “class clowns.” Their joking could sometimes be dangerous, but they add to the unit or class environment. Kiowa is a more determined soldier, who also acts to help his unit. It seems that Tim O’Brien is more of a wallflower. He observes everything that occurs around him. Rat Kiley is the kid in the class who can’t stop lying and telling made up stories. He wants attention and will tell the craziest stories to get. These characters resound with my school, and it made reading the book that much more enjoyable.
Another important piece of the The Things They Carried is the context of where it takes place. Trying to have high school students wrap their heads around war can be impossible. For a student to truly appreciate and understand the sacrifices and pain of war, they have to actually experience it. Tim O’Brien does a beautiful job of conveying the hardships of war, and it helps me understand how bloody war can be. When he describes burning down a village, torturing a water buffalo, or even killing another man, war can be conceptualized. His imagery and description are precise and add to the realness of his story.
After reading The Things They Carried, I gained a better appreciation for the Vietnam War. I would recommend this book to anyone because everyone will find their own way to relate to what they are reading. Whether it be the structure of chapters or the characters themselves, they can easily be compared to a high school student’s life. It was a great read that had me on the edge of my seat, and I believe it will do the same to anyone who picks it up. Tim O'Brien's masterpiece is definitely worthwhile.
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