Discuss the Idea of "Carrying" in O'Brien's "The Things They Carried". What Is Carried and by Whom?
Tim O’Brien, in his collection of short stories called “The things they carried”, develops the theme of soldiers ‘carrying’ many burdens throughout their lives. Through his persona, also named Tim O’Brien, O’Brien contradicts the stereotypical reason as to why the men joined the war. Jimmy Cross explores the unwanted burden placed on a Lieutenant of the platoon member’s responsibility. Further O’Brien explores the affect of the Vietnam War on the soldiers on their wellbeing through Norman Bowker, who suicides as he is unable to deal with the memories and the pressure faced due to the war. the emotional burden from the memories, physical weight ‘humped’ by them during the war and the mental pressures enforced upon them are the different types of ‘carrying’ which O’Brien explores through these characters.
Emotion burden came about from the memories and fear of shame, guilt and the loneliness at war. This the soldiers carried through out their lives. The men faced shame before the war when they were drafted. While many held the urge to go to Canada instead only some did. This is because of their fear of the shame from society of being called “Pussy” or “Turncoat” and went to war because they were “embarrassed not to”. O’Brien aims to contradict the idea of men attending the war to server for their country further through his persona Tim O’Brien. He too like many tries to runaway to Canada but social norms restrict his choices and he as well is a “coward” because he “went to war”. Through this O’Brien also reasons that throughout history men attended the war due to their fear of shame they would have to face, of enduring the “mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule”. This irony of the men being shameful for attending the war rather then for not attending the war further helps highlight the weight of the emotional confusion and burden the men faced due to social expectations. The men carry this emotional burden of shame and cowardice to the war where it is
Emotion burden came about from the memories and fear of shame, guilt and the loneliness at war. This the soldiers carried through out their lives. The men faced shame before the war when they were drafted. While many held the urge to go to Canada instead only some did. This is because of their fear of the shame from society of being called “Pussy” or “Turncoat” and went to war because they were “embarrassed not to”. O’Brien aims to contradict the idea of men attending the war to server for their country further through his persona Tim O’Brien. He too like many tries to runaway to Canada but social norms restrict his choices and he as well is a “coward” because he “went to war”. Through this O’Brien also reasons that throughout history men attended the war due to their fear of shame they would have to face, of enduring the “mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule”. This irony of the men being shameful for attending the war rather then for not attending the war further helps highlight the weight of the emotional confusion and burden the men faced due to social expectations. The men carry this emotional burden of shame and cowardice to the war where it is