Burdens In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

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Many themes are displayed throughout the book. Each of the men carry something throughout the war, but they all share one thing; burdens. In the beginning of the chapter, “The Things They Carried”, when Ted Lavender dies, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feels that he is responsible for it. “He felt shame. He hated himself. He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war.”(16) Since Lieutenant Jimmy, was so caught up in Martha and his fantasies about her, he blames himself. If he would’ve been paying attention, he would’ve been able to warn Lavender. Another example is when Kiowa dies in the field. Norman Bowker is the one to suffer the burden. “He pulled hard but Kiowa was gone, and then suddenly he felt himself going, too.”(143) Norman tried to save Kiowa, but he couldn’t get a strong grip on him, which caused him to slip away. …show more content…
The men desperately crave love, some more than others. For example, in the chapter, “Stockings”, Henry Dobbins and his girlfriend’s pantyhose. “The pantyhose, he said, had the properties of a good-luck charm… breathing in the scent of his girlfriend’s body; he liked the memories this inspired…”(111) Henry keeps his girlfriend’s pantyhose because of the love he has for her and for the safety it invokes. “ … wrapping his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck before heading out on ambush.”(111) He feels safe and has a piece of home to remind him. Another example of love is in “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”, when Mark Fossie brings his girlfriend over from the states to Vietnam. “You can actually do it… Bring in a girl… Six weeks later his girlfriend showed up” (89) Mark missed his girlfriend so he brought her over here. The other men don’t believe it because of the danger he can put Mary Anne through. In the end, Mark lost his girlfriend to Vietnam
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Author Study: Tim O’Brien The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien details the lives of several soldiers of the Vietnam War and the trauma, guilt, regret, loneliness, and heartbreak, among the millions of other tragic emotions felt by these young men. Told through the eyes of the author, Tim O’Brien, who at the time, like many other young men, weren’t planning on fighting their government war but unfortunately were dealt an unfortunate hand, experiencing the pain and hardship that ensued throughout…

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