Theme Truth

Words: 680
Pages: 3
Open Document
Within the novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien the theme truth is portrayed many times. This novel gave a first hand look into the experiences that a war veteran as well as a active member had gone through on a daily basis. He used the truth in many cases to share the stories of himself, his friends, and others involved. O’Brien used the theme truth in his novel as an effective way to show the reader how he felt. Because he wanted the reader to feel everything he had, he used story-truth rather than the real truth to make it seem more explicit. By using this theme, O’Brien was able to explain what happened in war without making the novel a fiction, even though he made up somethings. With truth he was able to get across the feelings …show more content…
More in depth in the noel meaning however, was to give O’Brien a way to cope with what he had done and saw in vietnam without being judged or afraid of telling the whole truth. O’Brien showed the reader that storytelling is a coping mechanism for soldiers as well as a way to release their war experiences them from their thoughts. In his own way he used the book as a way to help him, “But this too is true: stories can save us. I’m a forty-three year old, and a writer now, and even still, right here.” (p.223). This quote shows how his writing put him where he is today because by sharing his experiences he was able to get through very traumatic events. In both instances story-truth and happening-truth, O’Brien included a way to tell the truth to his daughter about killing anyone, “‘Daddy tell the truth,’ Kathleen can say, ‘did you ever kill anybody?’ And i can say honestly, ‘Of course not.’ Or I can say, honestly, ‘Yes.’”(p.180) This is the most relevant quote from the novel that shows how story-truth and happening-truth can overlap and seem the same, but have a different long term effect. If he were to have told his daughter that he did kill someone, at that time, she could have had the idea that is was good or that her father was a bad man. And by using the story-truth he could have easily said no he hadn’t in means to protect her innocence and her idea of her father. The
Show More

Related Documents: Theme Truth

Theme Of Truth In Hamlet Research Paper

the principal theme of truth is present throughout the play. Many characters each define truth in their own distinct and unique way. Many philosophers also have their owned defined understanding of truth as well. Within Hamlet, many philosophers’ ideas of truth can be portrayed through the characters such as Hamlet himself and Polonious as well. Descartes and Hume the two philosophers, their ideas of truth can both be perceived through the two characters here. Hamlet’s idea of the truth is that he…

Words 365 - Pages 2

Essay about How Does Beverley Naidoo Present The Themes Of Truth THIS

How does Beverley Naidoo present the themes of truth, lies and freedom of speech in the novel The Other Side? In the other side of truth, Naidoo presents truth, lies and freedom of speech in various ways. The book starts with nothing but the truth after Sade's father writing his article although with disagreements which relates to freedom of speech, the rest of the book spirals into lies in order to living safe. Using examples of themes, you will see how it is presented throughout. In chapter…

Words 1209 - Pages 5

A Separate Peace And Nighttime Comparison Essay

and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Both stories had contrasting themes and plot, however they also connected in many ways. Two opposite characters, plot, and setting come together to form many common themes and life lessons. A commonly shared theme in A Separate Peace and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time can be trust. Although each character in their stories show this theme differently, it it still similar in both novels. Christopher, from The Curious Incident…

Words 628 - Pages 3

Similarities Between Fahrenheit 451 And Harrison Bergeron

The authors of science fiction books want us to know that the themes of their books can reveal the truth about our own society. In "Fahrenheit 451" and "Harrison Bergeron", the themes show a message about our world. Authors use these stories to prevent the dystopian elements of the book's society to become part of ours. One of the science fiction books that use this kind of theme is "Fahrenheit 451". This book by Ray Bradbury, shows a theme of censorship, in a society where books are prohibited and…

Words 541 - Pages 3

Harmon's Themes In Walter Dean Myers Monster

Myers’ Monster, expresses a profound, and substantial theme throughout the entire novel. This novel is about a 16 year old kid named Steve Harmon that goes on trial for felony murder. Throughout the trials, Harmon has a journal where he keeps his private thoughts and writes his screenplay for the movie he will produce when the trials are over. Harmon believes he is innocent, but as the trials progress, he no longer knows what he is. The overall theme that’s presented in the novel is fighting for what…

Words 562 - Pages 3

The Drawer Boy

play, The Drawer Boy, expresses a very universal theme on facing reality or the concept of truth and falsehood and how avoiding it can cause consequences. Healey showcases and incorporates this idea into his famous works, The Drawer Boy about an enthusiastic young actor, Miles who comes to live with two farmers, happen to be veterans from World War II. Miles establishes a story based off their lives and along the way discovers a much hidden “truth” within their life. This brought a big turning point…

Words 397 - Pages 2

How Did Shirley Jackson Build Suspense In The Lamb To The Slaughter

The truth is not always obvious to people, but sometimes all you need to do is look at what is in front of you to find it.“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl is about a woman who kills her husband. The police try to solve the crime and think it is way more complex than it actually is. They didn’t now that the case could be solved right at the crime scene. “Charles” by Shirley Jackson is about a boy named Laurie, and every day he tells his mother about what Charles - a child in his class- does to…

Words 749 - Pages 3

The Holocaust By Jude Minka Analysis

the world. This is a critical part in the book as it mentions the theme of how humanity is broken and the discord that exist in it through ignorance. Earlier on in the book, Minka has encountered instances, where people told her that the Holocaust never happened. This is a series of evidence for the theme of how humanity is simply ignorant and divided as a species. As Minka has mentioned, people are just unable to accept the truth because it would be easier believing…

Words 352 - Pages 2

Oedipus Rex Research Paper

story’s theme it explains that fate can’t be beating through the use of symbols. Symbolism used in Oedipus Rex help contribute to its overall theme because it shows and explains how the symbols are relative to the problemes to the story. It also help the reader show the various symbols throughout Oedipus Rex to help illustrate the theme that one’s Fate can’t be avoided or beating. The symbol of sight and blindness represent Oedipus’s knowledge of things, but his ego make he blind from the truth,In the…

Words 439 - Pages 2

Role Of Universal Law In Antigone

sketch represents an important scene in the play Antigone. It depicts on when universal law and civil law do not match up. You are indeed justified to follow universal divine law if the civil law goes against it. Another theme of truth, in the play is depicted in the picture. The theme of universal law and what you know is right versus civil law and what your told to follow is depicted throughout the play. Antigone, the women crying in the picture, is an independent women that stands up for what she…

Words 708 - Pages 3