The Things They Carried: An In-Depth Look at the Lives of Vietnam War Soldiers

The Things They Carried Tim O’Brien’s 1990 Historical Fiction short story, “The Things They Carried”, is a first person look what the lives of men in the Vietnam War looked like. Due to the military draft the men in O’Brien’s platoon did not want to join the army but were rather forced. In the story, the author explains what the men in his platoon carry with themselves for protection as well as sentimental value. Throughout the story the thematic statement of and emotional burdens plays a big role on the men. Emotional burdens is seen through the story by the symbolism and imagery as well as the conflicts between the nature of Vietnam and lastly the mind games Lieutenant Cross dealt with.

Firstly, due to the troubles of being on the other side of the world, the men want to be home with their girlfriends and wife’s instead of being in Vietnam. Due to the nature, itself it shows and external conflict that resembles emotional burden’s. For example, the nature of having to explore tunnel complexes. “The morning was hot and very still. Not good, Kiowa said. He looked at the tunnel opening, then out across a dry paddy toward the village of Than Khe.” (O’Brien) The men tried to make the best out of anything possible. They played games to see who would explore the tunnels. The nature of diving head first into a tunnel still messes with your emotions. The slightest thought of something plays with everyone’s head.

In addition to the conflicts of nature, mind games impacted the lives of the men greatly. The internal conflict of mind games was displayed in First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross shows emotional burdens that First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross dealt with. Before going to Vietnam First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross met a girl named Martha. Jimmy Cross loved Martha and he wished nothing but to be with her. Jimmy’s mind would play games it would affect him emotionally. For example, in the text it states, “Lieutenant Cross gazed at the tunnel. But he was not there. He was buried with Martha under the white sand at the Jersey shore. They were pressed together, and the pebble in his mouth was her tongue.” (O’Brien) When Jimmy had to worry about his platoon his mind would always have Martha on his mind. The internal conflict of Jimmy’s mind playing games with him and resembles the theme constantly shows up in the story of emotional burdens.

Lastly, throughout the story the author uses multiple literary elements that relate to not only the conflicts but to the theme of the story as well. Symbolism is shown in the story, one example is with Henry Dobbins, “Henry Dobbins carried his girlfriend's panty hose wrapped around his neck as a comforter.” (O’Brien) Not only does Henry use his girlfriend’s panty hose as a comforter but it is used as a symbol that his girlfriend is always with him during the war. As well as symbolism, the author used imagery, the author was able to use imagery on Ted Lavender’s name, “Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried tranquilizers until he was shot in the head outside the village of Than Khe in mid-April.” (O’Brien) The author was able to use imagery on Ted’s name because due to the non- masculine color of Lavender, it shoes that Ted is not tough he is scared. He used the tranquilizers to help him cope with the scary thought of fighting in Vietnam. All throughout the story of “The Things They Carried” the author was able to provide the reader with details explaining the theme of emotional burdens. Emotional burdens is seen through the story by the symbolism and imagery as well as the conflicts between the nature of Vietnam and lastly the mind games Lieutenant Cross dealt with. With the details of emotional distress of the nature in Vietnam the soldiers found it difficult to cope with reality. Lieutenant Cross always had Martha on his mind and his mind played games with him which made it hard on him to lead a platoon into the war.