“The Things They Carried” By Tim O`Brien

The beauty of this point is in its subtlety and depth. The most interesting inquiry of all as regards this piece is how Marthas letter and pictures come to play in the story. The earn and pictures may symbolize hope or even false hope, despair, distraction, confusion, pick out or others. The answer depends on whether one views the story as to the highest degree war, love, some days in the life of treasure Cross or other possible themes rough which the story may revolve. Based on the means the story was told, these theories and interpretations are all possible.What caught my attention in particular, in relation to Marthas earn and pictures, are the reckoning of the reasons and drives people in the story halt the things they do. All of these purposes revolve around the fact that they carry things by necessity (p. 714). Even those which they carry by superstition (p. 717) may be deemed to have been carried as a necessity because these things help them rent courage and belie f, if not in their victory, in their survival. However, among all the things he carried, Jimmy Cross carries Marthas love letters.Is this really necessary? This may not even qualify as superstition because thither does not step forward any belief on his part that the letters will succeed him some protection from the war. At this point, the power effectively created an contrariety that is as well subtle to be noticed, simply is too important that the story revolves around it. The story is also filled with enumerations of the things they carried. However, it is interesting that, while it constitutes the bulk of the story, this enumeration is actually not the story itself.It is included merely to demonstrate the inconsistency mentioned and thus give further emphasis to the value of Marthas letters for Jimmy and for the story. I also admire the pen for being sufficient to tell the story and convey the emotions of the characters through descriptions of what are happening quite an than through direct avouchments of the emotions felt, thus allowing the readers freedom to interpret and visualize. An example of this is the authors description of Martha during her volleyball accident (p. 715) and the description of the things carried by antithetic people in the story.1. What do you think is the authors purpose in stating more than once in the story that Martha signed her letters and pictures with Love, but that he knew better that this is just a customary way of signing a letter and does not really mean anything? Is this to presentation that Martha does not love Jimmy? Is it to create doubt as to whether Martha does not really love Jimmy? What other purposes can there be? 2. This story enumerates many material things men carry at war. However, in one part of the story (p. 724), the author wrote the sentence the things men carried inside.What does the author mean by this? What are the things men carried inside? Relate this to the statement ate the end of the s tory that their days would seem longer and their load heavier (p. 725). 3. React on this statement. His obligation was not to be love but to lead (p. 725). Is it possible to dispense with love completely? Can a person in a war lead and be loved at the same time? Is there room for love when there is war? Work Cited OBrien, Tim. The Things They Carried (1986). Worlds of Fiction. Ed. Rubinstein and Larson. Macmillan Coll Div, 1993. 713-725.