Death In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

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War is never imagined to be happy or “the place to be”. A common theme that occurs not just in the book, The Things They Carried, but in war all together is a loss of innocence. Young men are sent over to war to fight for our country, and death is the number one risk. No matter the precautions taken or the amount of faith one has can stop the inevitable from happening. Death was a constant threat hanging over the soldiers heads. While at war, it was kind of expected, however it was no less scary. A young soldier coming from an American home to the hostile and scary environment of war is a culture and reality shock. The young soldiers have to leave their old lives behind and have a war mindset, which makes the soldiers mentally grow and mature. The fact death couldn't be predicted was an uneasy feeling for all soldiers, it was an …show more content…

Life-or-death situation will be everywhere a soldier goes, and with those types of situations comes a change in everyday priorities. In The Things They Carried the novel states, “This was not Mount Sebastian, it was another world, where there were no pretty poems or midterm exams, a place where men died because of carelessness and gross stupidity. Kiowa was right. Boom-down, and you were dead. Never partly dead.” (O’Brien 22-23) This quote is explaining that the change in living conditions changes the way you see certain characteristics of life. One’s significant other or lack thereof is no longer the number one priority, it is making sure everyone gets out alive. Life-or-death situations will always be around, and the fear of whether one is doing the right action to reach survival is alway right along with every situation. As stated before, a simple mature conclusion of one’s surrounding takes life’s innocence and alters the reality of priorities and how to handle them. One does not just fear dying, while at war, one also fears that they haven't lived

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