The Thing That They Carried - Book Report/Review Example

? Final Evaluation of a Short Story Summary The Thing That They Carried is one of the numerous publication that have been done by Tim O’Brien in his literature works. Apparently, it is one of numerous fiction stories that have received audience across the world, with majority of the people leaving comments on the unique bit of the short story as one of his works. As such, the story revolves around Tim O’Brien who happens to be the main character where he is said to receive a notice in a particular summer. As a result of the notice, he faces an ethical dilemma where he is torn between reporting for the anticipated war in Vietnam and obeying his conscious to end up in jail or in Canada (O'Brien, 2009). Unfortunately, Tim O’Brien is unable to secure himself from the works of the Living God and his country. He sets up for the war field where he finds majority of those in the battle field with mixed emotional experiences such as love, hate and guilt. At the same time, they use tough language in an effort to reduce the impact of the war to the public and the knowledge of having been alive when their buddies have died as they continuously wonder what the war is meant for (O'Brien, 2009). Basically, the book revolves around the writer who is the main character and protagonist. His main role entails the experience he has towards bringing a sense of redemption after the tussle with his conscious on what to do. Similarly, the antagonist in the book happens to be himself, Tim O'Brien, especially when he fights back with the feelings of hatred, blame, and fear emanating from within. He is portrayed as a character who inwardly blames himself for having accepted the draft notice to go to war and having lived through the war even when many of his colleagues had died in the same war (O'Brien, 2009). In a general sense, the story reaches its peak when the main character (Tim O'Brien) is said to return to the war field where he finds out that his friend Kiowa has passed on but manages to find his daughter. It is here where he is seen to figuratively take down the anguish and anger that he is said to carry for a long time. Analysis It is apparent that, the story has been written by the main character with the main aim of expressing three themes that have vividly been utilized. These primary themes incorporate memory, imagination and the chance for mental escapement. For instance, the main character is seen to dwell on another character that is portrayed as a close friend through imaginations of been close to the character (Martha). Moreover, Tim O'Brien uses pretence as a form of telling the story. This story telling form is most prevalent to Tim O’Brien as he is seen to mostly tell stories to himself (O'Brien, 2009). Similarly, the main character who happens to be the author of this book has continuously used artifacts to put more emphasis on the actions of his character and that of the other characters. For instance, Martha, a character portrayed as Tim O’Brien close friend and lover has letters and photograph which are carried around by the author as a sign of love for her. Apart from the description that is given through the use of physical artifacts, the author uses the main characters. In essence, the description given in term of what the main characters are carrying, is meant to give more details on the foreshadow necessary in understanding what the novel is all about. In fact, the technique emphases on the full composite of the story’s characters where the audience seem to view them as real people (O'Brien, 2009). Of importance to note is that the author has been able to connect with the audience in a unique way by making sure that some of the physical and emotional processes in the book are easily captured by the audience. For instance, the weight of a weapon, the weight of a grenade among other descriptions. In this regard, the unfolding of this story of Vietnam war introduce the characters one by one as their roles as portrayed according to their entry. Judgement The Things That They Carried is a novel that has described the Vietnam more in a more discrete way than any other book. Personally, I perceive that his use of physical things ranging from weapons, keepsakes and people in the fictional article is one way of demonstrating the aspect of the said war in a precise manner. First, he uses both fiction and facts to demonstrate the weight of the war as emotional and alive. Although the story has been written in a linear fashion, the author has heavily incorporated his personal feelings such as guilty, love and cowardice. In fact, at one point of the story Tim O'Brien submits to having been transformed at the end of the war. In light of this, Tim O'Brien and the rest of the soldiers involved in the war, who were lucky enough to survive the war automatically come back to their family transformed. This transformation was as a result of the impact that was portrayed by the war (O'Brien, 2009). In contrast of this, it has been argued that The Things That They Carried as a book could not have been able to handle the Vietnam War as would be expected because it does not have the presumed elements of ‘a war related story’. Apparently, the opponents of this writing argue that the book must have elements of brutality, heartbreaks and gruesome aspect. These among other aspects clearly portray a war related piece of writing. Fortunately, The Things That They Carried by Tim O'Brien has clearly passed the expected message to the audience through its unique literature breakdown. As such, the resolution of the war leaves the author wondering how the situation would have been, had he failed to respond to the draft notice that compelled him to go to the war field. As a result, he succeeds in conveying the free fall sensation of cowardice and emotional aspect of life situations (O'Brien, 2009). References: O'Brien, T. (2009).The Things They Carried: A Work Of Fiction. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Read More