Emotional Experiences in Tim O´Brien´s The Things They...

Most stories about war show the glory of war and heroism of soldiers. According to OED, war is â€Å"a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state†. But, what’s the definition about the stage of confusions in the soldier’s mind? A conflict between two nations or states can be resolved in a particular amount of time but can an experience from a person’s mind can ever be forgotten, can a person ever be able to resolve his own conflict: his fight with his emotions, changes, and his own mind? Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is a powerful combination of fact and fiction; through description and imagination, O’Brien allows the reader to feel a soldiers hardships in the war and†¦show more content†¦Can a change that was caused by a particular experience be described from a particular perspective? Can a horrible truth be expressed in words how it felt as a feeling? Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, a collection of stories about his service in the Vietnam War, raises exactly such questions, and in remembering, O’Brien endeavors to answer them for himself. The short story â€Å"Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,† is a tale of the horrors of war, and how quickly violent experiences can change one from civilized gentle to uncivilized inhumane who enjoys killing others. The story tells about an ideal American young girl’s transformation into a savage, who becomes emotionless while visiting her boyfriend, a soldier, in Vietnam. This story shows that a war can bring up the savage characteristics within human beings, whether male or female. This is shown through the development of Mary Anne. Initially she was amiable and innocent, but she rapidly became more disconnected to society a trained killer. Her story shows the mental transference of humans at war, and how they can be converted from sympathetic people into unsocial, who is capable of performing the most dreadful acts. O’Brien uses irony to convey the bizarre aspect of the story, keeping the purpose of his true-warShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie The Things They Carried 1734 Words   |  7 PagesScenario - Vietnam War The Things They Carried, is a novel based on the Vietnam War, and the book reveals the truth of the war as the author remembers the war after twenty one years and snows his guilt and emotions for the war. The Things They Carried, belongs high on the list of the best fiction about any war... crystallizes the Vietnam experiences for everyone and exposes the nature of all war stories.( New York Times, Book of the Century). Tim O Brien, the author of the book is bothRead MorePsychological Changes During Soldiers From The Vietnam War981 Words   |  4 Pagesequipment of a soldier is the only thing that can cause the line not to clear. But, a soldier also carries his memory, memories, amulets, ghosts of the past, and trivial objects that do not let him forget that there is another life-the life-beyond war. Soldiers of Alpha Company, who fought in Vietnam, carry everything they could. And, those men and things are making their appearance in the story The Things They Carried by Tim O Brien, which also fought in Vietnam. Mr. O Brien tells how, after fleeing toRead MorePsychological Changes During Soldiers From The Vietnam War1215 Words   |  5 Pagessoldier s survival in war depends on what he wears, and his life is just one step away from death. However, a soldier not only carries supplies, weapons, and equipment; a soldier also carries memories, amulets, ghosts of the past, and trivial objects that do not l et him forget that there is another life beyond war. The Soldiers of Alpha Company, who fought in Vietnam, carry everything they could. And, those men and things are making their appearance in the story The Things They Carried by Tim O BrienRead MoreThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien1459 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the mid 1950’s, the Vietnam War turned to be the modern pinnacle for battles resulting in the deaths of 58,000 American soldiers and millions of Vietnamese death. It saw the viable destruction of modern technology such as the newly fashioned M-16 rifle and the Apache, a helicopter made for mass destruction. For the soldiers experiencing Vietnam, it was truly an experience which would shape their hearts and minds forever. As evidenced in Tim O’ Brien’s The Things They Carried, The Vietnam WarRead MoreThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien Essay984 Words   |  4 PagesVery few novels and short stories have managed to clarify, in any lasting process, the means of the war in Vietnam for America and for the troopers who served there. With The Things They Carried, author (Tim O’Brien), captures the war s pulsing rhythms and trying dangers. However he goes abundant any. By moving on the far side the horror of the fighting to look at with sensitivity and insight the character of affection, courageousness and worry, by questioning the role that imagination playsRead MoreEssay On The Things They Carried1629 Words   |  7 PagesThe Things They Carried, reflects the saga of drafted soldiers during the Vietnam era who were sent to the Vietnam War. The author, Tim O’Brien, describes the things that the men carry during their tour of duty. The items carried are both physical and impalpable items and what these things are is subject to the individual soldier. They carry the necessities for survival in the jungles of Vietnam as well as the personal things each soldier feels necessary to make life as comfortable as possibleRead MoreThe Things They Carried : Writing Task1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Things They Carried - Writing Task By Charlie Evans – Word Count: 1099 Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the reader’s imagination. Tim O’Brien the author of the novel The Things They Carried demonstrates storytelling to maximise the significance of story truth versus happening truth and the focus on emotion and feeling, not the events. These main ideas O’Brien displays is reinforced through the choicesRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )2357 Words   |  10 PagesVietnam War. This is no surprise as most veterans fighting in the Vietnam War faced many traumatic events fighting in combat and PTSD came about as a result. After a traumatic experience most soldiers will feel frightened, sad, anxious, disconnected, and even experience sleeping disorders, along with many other mental and emotional problems. If this continues and does not fade, soldiers will continue to feel overwhelmed with the feelings of continuous danger and painful memories. These symptoms all pointRead MoreThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien1669 Words   |  7 PagesIn The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien, is a novel that unfolds the truths about the Vietnam war through short stories. The Vietnam war is one of the longest war the U.S. ever participates in which lasted from 1955-1975. Furthermore, through the narration of these stories Tim O’Brien discusses about his feelings and perspective of the war. Also O’Brien writes stories that connects with ventures that has many experiences with war and people who face difficulties. Therefore, The Things They CarriedRead MoreEssay On The Things They Carried1777 Words   |  8 PagesThe Things They Carried, is a story about drafted soldiers during the Vietnam era who were sent to the Vietnam War. The author, Tim O’Brien, describes the things that the men carry during their tour of duty. The items carried are both physical and impalpable items and what these things are is subject to the individual soldier. They carry the necessities for survival in the jungles of Vietnam as well as the personal things each soldier feels necessary to make life as comfortable as possible. Additionally