Reflective Essay On The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien initially presents itself as a story about the different items each soldier carries. However, when looked at deeper it is clear that the focal point in this story is actually centered around the death of many of the narrator’s platoon members and the abhorrent conditions of Vietnam. Despite this being a fictional story, it does give the reader an insight on what Vietnam was like and how soldiers found ways to take their minds off of the war. It also reveals that the little things allowing soldiers to escape the horrors also allows for the incredible cost of distraction. Regret, respect, and fear is what propelled the actions of the soldiers during the midst of battle and essentially led to their outcome.

This is what allows the story to be unique. Even though these items are everyday items they are special because they are items that make living in Vietnam more manageable. “First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey.” (O’ Brien 10) Like most of the other items being carried by other soldiers, Jimmy’s was non-military as well. This may be due to the soldier’s way of enduring and withstanding the emotional issues and stress that come along with war. Jimmy wants to believe that Martha loves him just as he loves her because something as little as Martha’s love takes Jimmy’s mind somewhere else, even for a second. Even though Martha probably doesn’t love him back he makes himself believe that she does. He daydreams about her and many other things he left back home. This suggests that he regrets where he left off with Martha and how he wishes he had another chance to relive seeing her

This may be from respect and honor they have, but it also could be due to the actual fear within the soldiers. “I survived, but it’s not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war.” (O’Brien) O’Brien essentially calls himself out for allowing his shame and fear to overcome all of his principles. He suggests the strong thing to do would be to run away but instead he was weak and scared. He finds himself in the same position Ted Lavender was in, where he is overwhelmed by fear and knows that it will not help him