Tim O Brien Character Analysis
Tim O'Brien, an author and avid reader, grew up near the borders of Iowa and South Dakota in Worthington, Minnesota, a typical small town in Midwestern America. He was born on October 1, 1946, making Tim a member of the post-World War II baby boomer generation. As a scrappy 18 year old, O'Brien traveled to St. Paul and enrolled at Macalester College. Throughout his years in college, O'Brien came to oppose the war in Vietnam. He didn't launch violent protests, as some radical activist groups had done, but instead joined the campaign of Eugene McCarthy, a presidential candidate from 1968 who openly opposed the fighting in Vietnam. O'Brien, who was an excellent student, completed his undergraduate degree by earning a bachelor's degree in
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"Tim O'Brien" the soldier should not be confused with the author, Tim O'Brien. Throughout the novel, "Tim" is remembering the past, and poring over the details of his memories of Vietnam in search of meaning. "Tim" begins by describing the characters of the story and telling you what each carried. Though many items that the soldiers toted were identical, each soldier was unique. Henry Dobbins is the big guy, so he carries extra food along with a heavy machine gun and his girlfriend's pantyhose. Kiowa carries a hatchet which he can use to hunt if necessary, along with a Holy Bible and a pair of moccasins. Ted Lavender, who is too anxious to face the war, carries tranquilizer pills and marijuana. Mitchell Sanders carried brass knuckles, condoms, and the unit's 28 pound radio. Dave Jensen carried soap, foot powder, dental floss, and vitamin pills. Norman Bowker simply carried a diary. The level of detail in which "O'Brien" describes these characters will get increasingly more complex throughout the story. The first character featured was Lt. Jimmy Cross, the leader of Alpha Company. Lt. Cross carries photographs of his girlfriend, Martha, memories of their date together, and carries regrets that he did not try to be with her prior to leaving for Vietnam. Lt. Cross carries all the things that the other men carry, such as weapons, tear gas, explosives, ammunitions, entrenching tools, grenades, flak jackets, boots, and rations, but in addition to all that, he carries the lives of his
"Tim O'Brien" the soldier should not be confused with the author, Tim O'Brien. Throughout the novel, "Tim" is remembering the past, and poring over the details of his memories of Vietnam in search of meaning. "Tim" begins by describing the characters of the story and telling you what each carried. Though many items that the soldiers toted were identical, each soldier was unique. Henry Dobbins is the big guy, so he carries extra food along with a heavy machine gun and his girlfriend's pantyhose. Kiowa carries a hatchet which he can use to hunt if necessary, along with a Holy Bible and a pair of moccasins. Ted Lavender, who is too anxious to face the war, carries tranquilizer pills and marijuana. Mitchell Sanders carried brass knuckles, condoms, and the unit's 28 pound radio. Dave Jensen carried soap, foot powder, dental floss, and vitamin pills. Norman Bowker simply carried a diary. The level of detail in which "O'Brien" describes these characters will get increasingly more complex throughout the story. The first character featured was Lt. Jimmy Cross, the leader of Alpha Company. Lt. Cross carries photographs of his girlfriend, Martha, memories of their date together, and carries regrets that he did not try to be with her prior to leaving for Vietnam. Lt. Cross carries all the things that the other men carry, such as weapons, tear gas, explosives, ammunitions, entrenching tools, grenades, flak jackets, boots, and rations, but in addition to all that, he carries the lives of his