Professor Huston

English II, 151 - 80

7 March 2005

The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien, is a generalization of his own experiences in Vietnam although the story itself is a work of fiction there is still much to be learned from it. Through the actions of soldiers in The Things They Carried we can begin to explore the effect war has on the human condition and the toll it plays on their minds.

Some of the themes in the book, The Things They Carried, are bravery and what true bravery is, truth and how the manipulation of truth is sometimes necessary and how truth can be molded or distorted through memory, and lastly, the demoralizing effects of war on the human condition. These themes are all played out through the actions of the main character, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross.

Half the story takes place in...