The Things They Carried in the Things They Carried

The central theme of the story is the age-old conflict of life and death. On a more personal level with First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the round character and protagonist of "The Things They Carried", it is a conflict of love, his antagonist and of war.

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien is a book solely about surviving war, and the stories that come along with going to a war. There are many different kinds of stories that Tim told about his experience at war. Some were sad, many were adventurous, and others made you wonder if they were even real. But with every story, there is something a certain soldier has that meant everything to them. They show a sense of comfort within every single person in this story. No matter if it is a physical object, or a spiritual value they carry with themselves at all times. They symbolize who the person is, what their life was like pre-war, and what they thrive to live for.

Norman Bowker, “otherwise a very gentle person” (9), carried a diary and a human thumb that Mitchel Sanders gifted to him. The diary is representative of his gentle or even compassionate nature. Whereas, the severed finger of the sixteen-year-old boy represents his need to toughen up in the reality he was living in—where innocent looking sixteen-year-old kids carry rifles and ammunition. Rat Kiley is the medic and carried comic books, brandy, and a medical supply satchel with morphine, plasma, malaria tablets, surgical tape and M&Ms. Kiley’s youth is captured in his desire for comic books and candy. Kiowa is an American Indian steeped in tradition. A devout Baptist, Kiowa carried an illustrated New Testament from his father, a feathered-hunting hatchet from his grandfather, moccasins, and his grandmother’s distrust of white men. Lee Strunk’s slingshot and tanning lotion are representative of an outdoorsy, adventurous boy. This is further shown when he comes out of the dreaded tunnel “grinning” (8). Finally, protagonist Jimmy Cross is the platoon leader and carried a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, a .45 caliber pistol that weighs almost three pounds, strobe light, two photographs of Martha, a good-luck pebble, and the responsibility for the lives of his men. Jimmy Cross is sentimental and his love for Martha, whom he hoped was a virgin, represented Cross’ youthful innocence.

Cross commanded Alpha Company in the Vietnam war carrying the responsibility for his life, the lives on of subordinates and the success of the mission details they enacted. Cross often thought about life before the war and when he did, his thoughts often dwelled on a junior at Mount Sebastian college, a girl he graduated with named Martha. At the bottom of his rucksack protected by plastic, laid letters from her, a girl he fantasized about loving him (O’Brien 1). When Alpha Company marched, his mind wandered, he could not or did not wish to leave his attention to the war before him. He would fade in and out of reality, barking orders to his men before slipping away into his day dreams where he needn’t carry a thing (O’Brien 3). April 16th was no exception, the company was on mission to destroy the tunnel systems in Than Khe; while one of his men crawled into and explored a possibly dangerous tunnel First Lieutenant Cross slipped into a day dream. He did not survey the area looking for immediate threats, as Ted Lavender regrouped with his company a bullet penetrated the back of his head and tore out his cheekbone from his skull. As quickly as the shot occurred, Lavender was dead (O’Brien 5). Cross and his soldiers collected their fallen comrade’s body, waiting for a helicopter to take Lavender back to the states in a wooden box and Cross cried. Jimmy blamed himself, “he had loved Marth 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” (O’Brien 7). With that realization, Lieutenant Cross burned his memories of Martha at the bottom of a foxhole. Cross became a soldier and commanding officer first and foremost, a person second. He no longer allowed the day dreams, looked at the foreign landscape with realistic eyes and commanded his men firmly to help his men and their

The first story of two stories for First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feels guilty about the death of Ted Lavender after he goes off by himself to pee and on his way back he was shot in the head on his way back from peeing. Cross Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feels guilty for the death of Ted Lavender because “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” (pg. 16). Lieutenant Cross blames Ted Lavender dead on loving Martha more than his men is justified because he kept every letter she send him, when it mind would wander he would be thinking if Martha was a virgin, keep to picture of Martha in his wallet. There are three quotes justifying this he loved Martha more than his men. The first time “after a day 's march, cross would dig his foxhole, wash his hands under a canteen, unwrap the letters, hold them with the tips of his fingers, and spend the last hour of light pretending” (pg. 1). The second time “when was Jimmy time to check the perimeter, he

Various examples of this disorder are found in a few chapters such as "Speaking of Courage" and "The Man I Killed." For Vietnam veterans, nothing could replenish the zest for life they had before the war. According to O'Brien's text, upon their arrival home the veterans imagine, even hallucinate, what things would have been like if they had not suffered through the war. Examples of such occurrences exist in the stories "Speaking of Courage" and "The Man I Killed." Norman Bowker in "Speaking of Courage" daydreams of talking to his ex-girlfriend, now married to another guy, and of his dead childhood friend, Max Arnold. He lives out over and over his unfulfilled dream of having his Sally beside him and of having manly conversations with Max. He cannot stop day dreaming and dwelling in the past.

The Things They Carried Writing Prompt What do you carry on the regular basis? Could it be a pencil, your favorite book, or a lucky charm bracelet? One thing for sure is that if you had to go off to war, that isn’t the only thing you’ll carry with you, instead you’ll think twice about it.

Human beings carry many different things with them, both physical and metaphorical. In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” he presents an exploration of the many burdens that people can carry. Throughout the story, he presents many detailed descriptions of the equipment and tangible things that the characters carry with them to help them survive their ordeal physically. O’Brien also describes the various ‘things’ that the men carry both physically and emotionally to help them deal with the mental and emotional stress of war. O’Brien also details the additional ‘things’ that the men pick up over the course of their experiences, both physical and mental/emotional. Through the metaphor of carrying objects, the descriptions of the items and

“The mama-sans just stood there in the rain, soaking wet, yapping away about how this field was bad news. ”(Page 145). Norman Bowker felt as though this role was to save Kiowa the best way he could and get him to safety. “He pulled hard but Kiowa was gone and then suddenly felt himself going, too.” Norman thought he failed because he didn’t succeed on getting Kiowa out.

“The Things They Carried” is a short story by Tim O’Brien about a platoon of men who are fighting in the Vietnam War. The protagonist is Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. He is in charge, but constantly lost in day dreams about his ex-girlfriend, Martha, back home. She writes him letters, and he treasures every one, falling in love with her just over those short, impersonal letters. Even though it is added weight to Cross’s already heavy bag, his carries all of her letters with him throughout the Vietnam jungle. He is not the only man who carries unneeded things though. Each man carried something with him that is not essential for survival. Some do treasure practical things like an extra weapon but some carry United States dollars or the pantyhose of

​For many years war has been a huge part of history. Thousands of people go to war for their country and come back physically fine. But what people usually do not notice is the emotional distress and burden that the veterans come back with on their back. That is what drives the purpose of the book in “The things they carried”. Tim O’Brien wrote this book in way that shows how war can be part of the soldier for the rest of their life. Coming home veterans have to deal with individual sufferings, but the emotional baggage the soldiers bring also effect the people around them. The characters in the book the “The things they carried” portray this very well.

He plays a significant role in the novel and symbolizes guilt. At the start of The Things They Carried, Jimmy Cross was innocent; however, when he thinks more about his “lover” Martha, the people around him get impacted. He seeks love for Martha, and his thoughts of her motivates him to focus more about her then his men. After Kiowa tells him how Lavender died, Jimmy Cross “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” (O’Brien 16). Jimmy Cross is heartbroken of Lavender’s death, and he feels like he is responsible for his death. He is acting like it is his fault because he got carried away with his thoughts leaving his men isolated and left with no leadership. He is a symbol of guilt because he tries to get the thought of Lavender dying under his wing. Later in the novel, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feels he is the one to blame for another one of his teammates death. After Kiowa dies in the sewage waste, Jimmy Cross “told himself to follow his first impulse. In the late afternoon yesterday, when they reached the night coordinates, he should’ve taken one look and

The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water (2).

Personal items and necessities can symbolize a person’s fantasies and reality. Tim O’Brien displays this notion in his story “The Things They Carried”. This story follows a group of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Each member of this group has items that have notable importance either to the person themselves or their rank. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross thinks about this girl named Martha. Thoughts relating to Martha fill his mind. These thoughts range from her virginity to her love for him. Jimmy carries letters, photographs and a pebble that came from Martha. He thinks about Martha all the time, even when he tries to concern himself with his team. When the team arrives at a tunnel, Lee Strunk draws the unlucky number and goes to search the

In the novel, there is an emphasis on how each character deals with his or her emotional baggage. Each character, who is at war, has certain ways of coping with their situation. The soldiers display through their personality the struggles of war. As human beings, we tend to reflect what we carry. For example, if someone experiences loss, sorrow is revealed. O’Brien puts into perspective the baggage that comes with being an adult. In the real world loss, rejection, failure, trials and tribulation occur. Norman Bowker for example, returns home and finds it difficult to adjust to the normality. His baggage from the war torments him and eventually causes him to take his own life. Obrien emphasizes that one must find ways to cope with certain situations.