The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien - Book Report/Review Example

“The Things They Carried” by Tim OBrien The “Things They Carried” entails a collection of various short stories done byTim Obrien. Most of these short stories in this case focus on a platoon of the U.S soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. “Things They Carried” is a third war book that was originally published in 1990 by Mifflin. Tim O’Brien uses various semi-autobiographical characters in the narrating the Vietnam War ordeals (Bloom 66). The book is therefore dedicated to the Alpha Company men with who were part of the Vietnam War with him. As later demonstrated, O’Brien is only a fictional character unlike the previous thoughts of him being the author. Why Tim OBrien Wrote The Book In writing his book, O’Brien tries to demonstrate the distinction between accuracy and truth. O’Brien claims that, what human beings see accurately with their eyes may sometimes be deceptive. In simple terms, the narrator tries to make distinction between happening truth and story truth (Bloom 66). Therefore, in writing the “Things They Carried”, O’Brien is trying to demonstrate how it is always difficult to pin down certain levels of truthfulness. O’Brien states that this aspect remains a warning against absolutism and against the white and the black declarations of truthfulness (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 32). In this case, O’Brien feels that the notion to create a tale, which is theoretically false yet truthfully portrays war, tends to create emotion to the readers. Additionally, O’Brien aims at clearing his conscience and narrate the story of U.S soldiers in Vietnam. Generally, his fiction regarding the Vietnam Want demonstrates realities of the war zone (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 36). In this case, O’Brien feels that using fiction best explores some of these stories instead of presentation of precise facts. His elliptical and fluid negotiation of truth in reference to the context echoes works that are labeled the non-fiction novels (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 83). Part of O’Brien’s effort is to display through narrative the blurry, ambiguous, grayish fog and complicated aspect of certain historical events. It is also evident that O’Brien wanted to establish a self-contained book of stories, which share people’s experience (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 85). Yet again, O’Brien wanted each story to at attain the light of the other stories. Although O’Brien wants each story to stand alone, at the end, he aimed ambitiously for making an art through his writings. O’Brien wanted to ensure that the pieces would be capable of reflecting and absorbing light of other stories (OBrien 25 In writing the “Things They Carried”, O’Brien mainly centers on platoon of soldiers and the Vietnam War. In one sense, O’Brien seeks to address the events of the Vietnam War. On the other hand, O’Brien seeks to tell his audience on the Vietnam War story. Alternatively, O’Brien seeks shows how the stories can influence people’s lives (OBrien 27). Generally, the Vietnam War writing tries to pin down the language of the truth regarding the Vietnam War subject. The writing itself shows O’Brien’s dedication in teaching people on issues affecting the U.S soldiers on their mission in foreign countries (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 52). In doing this, Tim O’Brien used various themes throughout the book. Common themes used by O’Brien include love, enemies and friends, ambush, spin, nightlife and ghost soldiers. Other themes include, lives of the dead, courage, church and stockings (OBrien, 54). At the begging, the readers are introduced to the leader of the U.S soldier’s squad in the Vietnam War Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. O’Brien shows how Jimmy Cross carries various physical reminders of Martha who was the object of his unreciprocated love (OBrien 25). However, when death strikes, Jimmy Cross tends to reconsider his priorities regarding his love. The love aspect is demonstrated by the private conversation between O’Brien and Cross. On the other hand, the spin theme is demonstrated by various unrelated memories from the Vietnam War that is narrated by O’Brien (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 92). In his book, O’Brien also highlights the enemies and friends aspect during the wartime in Vietnam. O’Brien demonstrates the aspect in two different sections through some of the soldier’s relationships. Here, he highlights to his target audience on how the war also created friendship and respect among the U.S soldiers. Through his book, O’Brien shows that the U.S soldiers mostly depend on each other in that, when one is wounded, the other soldiers must always deal with the fatal blow (OBrien, 43). In his book, O’Brien use various examples of stories and tales from his colleagues in illustrating that the truthful aspect remains a malleable and delicate thing especially in telling war stories. O’Brien also uses the Church aspect to demonstrate that the U.S soldiers also have social life. In this case, the monks and the soldiers interact by discussing their relationships with churches (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 102). ). From the reader’s responses, O’Brien’s work of art worked effectively. O’Brien manages to encompass different fictional stories in exploring real happenings and experiences in Vietnam. Instead of presenting precise facts, his elliptical and fluid negotiation of truth in reference to the context echoes works effectively to his gain. His idea was simple and yet complicated (OBrien, 47). Through the fictional aspect, the “Things They Carried” manages to demonstrate real events especially in war tone nations. Why The Vietnam and America Do Not Like War The Vietnam War or rather the Vietnamese was the second Indochina War having occurred in Laos Vietnam in November 1955. The Vietnam War was followed the Indochina War that was fought between Southern and Northern Vietnam. In this case, the war was supported by various fronts including China, Soviet Union, the United States and various communist allies. The United States government termed its involvement into the war as prevention towards the Communist takeover of the Southern Vietnam. In reference to the war, it was evident that both Vietnam and the U.S were against the war. In fact, Vietnam viewed the war as colonial. On the other hand, America felt disillusioned with the Vietnam War and eventually, they gradually withdrew from the war zone. The withdrawal of the American forces from the war zone Vietnam was part of the Vietnamization policy, which was aimed at ending U.S involvement in a war fronts in the Vietnam. Additionally, the U.S was transferring its fighting tasks to the Southern Vietnamese. Both the United States and Vietnam failed to enjoy their participation in the Vietnam War. In fact, both nations hated the aftermath of the war. Generally, the Vietnam War remains a watershed especially in the American history since it exposed increased cracks in its social structure (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 42). Vietmnam felt that the war discriminated against its people especially the poor, the ethnic minorities and the less educated in the country. American analysts claimed that the war came with various implications especially to the U.S. The American administration had changed some of the previous administration policy by participating in the war. Another valid reason why both Vietnam and the U.S hate war is that most wars lead to unnecessary deaths. In the Vietnam War, at least 1000 Americans were murdered at the star. However, the number rose to 58,220 by 1975. One the other hand, Vietnam lost at least 244,256 people during the war. Increase in deaths resulted in both nations hating war affairs. Additionally, preparing for war is always expensive. The South Vietnamese war-training program was expensive especially for the American government. Effects of war are always devastating especially to poor fronts like Southern Vietnam (Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie 86). In most cases, it destabilizes the economy, the social structure and leads to deaths. Additionally, war causes deep divisions and destabilizes the nation. From a political standpoint, war can destabilize the nation since war aftermath is always expensive. The transition period is also expensive and unnecessary. After the war, most countries tend to struggle especially in dealing with their status either economically or politically. Failed policies due to wars are always expensive for war countries to handle. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. “Tim Obriens the Things They Carried.” Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2005. Print. Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie C. Hillstrom. “The Vietnam Experience: A Concise Encyclopedia of American Literature, Songs, and Films.” Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1998. Print. OBrien, Tim. “The Things They Carried: A Work of Fiction.” Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Print. Read More