Tim O Brien Superstition

If someone breaks a mirror, they’ll have seven years of bad luck. Superstitions in our society today can be good or bad. In the novel, by Tim O’brien, “The Things They carried” chapter “Stockings” they discussed how superstitions play such a big role in the war. Superstition is displayed in the novel when Dobbin’s believes in the lucky pantyhose, when the platoon started to think they’re lucky too, and when the pantyhose continue to be lucky after Dobbin’s and his girlfriend broke up. First off, Dobbin’s believes the pantyhose, from the girlfriend, are giving him luck. Tim O’brien said the following about Henry Dobbins when they were in the jungle in Vietnam. “The pantyhose, he said, had the properties of a good luck charm”(117). Dobbin’s was

When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O’brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. “It turned us into a platoon of believers. You don’t dispute facts”(118). O’brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. To the soldiers in Vietnam, superstition became a kind of religion. Lastly, the pantyhose continue to be lucky after she breaks up with him. Henry Dobbin’s saying this after his girlfriend broke-up with him, he said the following in Vietnam after this happened. “The magic doesn’t go away”(118). Dobbin’s realized the “luck” doesn’t go away even though they broke-up. When Dobbin’s believes in the lucky pantyhose, when the platoon started to think that they’re lucky too, and when the pantyhose continue to be lucky after they broke-up are all examples of superstition are shown in the novel. Dobbin’s believed the pantyhose were lucky since he never got hurt/injured wearing them. After, the platoon starts to believe because they don’t dispute the facts. Lastly, his girlfriend breaks-up with him and he believed the “luck” didn’t go away. Seven years of bad luck for breaking a