and less interest in the Vietnamese. However, the core of "The Things They Carried," O'Brien's work is distinct. Another author, Heberle, who wrote "A Trauma Artist," based his work on how aggression has impacted on American politics, society and culture. Similarly, O'Brien's work also focuses on the distressing experiences endured by the American soldiers. "The Things They Carried" is popularly seen as one of the best written books on American life after the sufferings of the war (M. Heberle). However, what exactly makes the Vietnam War distinct compared to other wars which America fought in? What brought about an American… Continue Reading...
Destructiveness of War in "The Things They Carried" and "Slaughterhouse Five"
Summary
“The Things They Carried” is a series of stories in which the narrator Tim O’Brien describes the experience of soldiers in the war. The term denotes the things that the soldiers came with to war. Some of the things are intangible such as fear and guilt while others are physical things such as M-16 rifles, morphine, and matches among others. When Lavender is shot during the war, Lieutenant Cross feels guilty for causing his death (O’Brien 56). However, he destructs himself from… Continue Reading...
Critical Analysis
The Things They Carried is a fictional work published by Tim O’Brien in 1990 that depicts the experiences of several American soldiers dealing with boredom and trauma during the Vietnam War. It comprises twenty-two interrelated short stories on the experience and traumatic aftermath of the Vietnam War with the first piece focusing on the things these soldiers carried to the battlefield. Martha is one of the female characters in this fictional work who is mentioned repeatedly in the first piece. The author depicts Martha as Lieutenant Jimmy Cross friend who… Continue Reading...