The plight of the common soldier is often overlooked when considering the historical aspects of war. In his fictionalized novel, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien recounts personal stories that depict the experiences of war on an individual scale. Through the use of anecdotes, O’Brien hopes to allow the reader to understand what it means to be a soldier behind enemy lines, providing insight not only into the daily activities, but also into the psychological impact of the war. Tim O’Brien did not support the Vietnam War, yet reluctantly served when drafted in 1968 immediately following his graduation from Macalester College. For his service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart.
The primary effect of the novel is that it displays the power of storytelling. Unlike many works of fiction, The Things They Carried does not consist of a unified plot, but rather a series of vignettes. In one such description, O’Brien details the functional importance of each item carried by a foot soldier, including tents, pocket knives, and wristwatches, and objects of sentimental value, such as photos, letters, and handkerchiefs. The stress of war took its toll in various ways; an innocent young woman underwent a cruel transformation after being exposed to night raids, and a long-time member of the infantry lost his mind after several weeks of marching only in the dead of night. In addition to tales of warfare, O’Brien shared non-combat stories, including the inability of one soldier to reconnect with civilian life.
The clarity of diction in each individual story is adequate; however, the blurring of the line between reality and fiction creates unnecessary confusion for the reader. It is almost impossible to tell if things that are ascribed to “O’Brien”, the narrator, are also true of O’Brien, the author. For instance, O’Brien relates an entire story describing his actions and feelings as he kills a man with a grenade, yet later completely contradicts himself by stating that he never killed a man. It was also very difficult to determine which character names were real or changed, or if the character had been completely fabricated. The lack of chronology in the narratives and knowledge of how each contributes to the novel as a whole adds another layer of confusion. While not always necessary in a work of fiction, the inclusion of a map would have been helpful because the bulk of the stories were set in obscure Vietnamese locations.
I respect the book that O’Brien has written, but as a 17-year-old non-veteran, it did not affect me to the same degree as it would someone of another generation. Although I condemn the inconsistent and non-chronological nature of the book, I understand that it is meant to simulate the experience of war and the mindset of its participants. I found some of the stories told to be engaging, but they did not have as much impact on me because the book is fictional. Reading the book evoked negative emotions, and although this may have been O’Brien’s intent, I could not fully appreciate the larger purpose of the book. I would recommend this book only to my peers who have a particular interest in war and to most adults, particularly veterans.
The primary effect of the novel is that it displays the power of storytelling. Unlike many works of fiction, The Things They Carried does not consist of a unified plot, but rather a series of vignettes. In one such description, O’Brien details the functional importance of each item carried by a foot soldier, including tents, pocket knives, and wristwatches, and objects of sentimental value, such as photos, letters, and handkerchiefs. The stress of war took its toll in various ways; an innocent young woman underwent a cruel transformation after being exposed to night raids, and a long-time member of the infantry lost his mind after several weeks of marching only in the dead of night. In addition to tales of warfare, O’Brien shared non-combat stories, including the inability of one soldier to reconnect with civilian life.
The clarity of diction in each individual story is adequate; however, the blurring of the line between reality and fiction creates unnecessary confusion for the reader. It is almost impossible to tell if things that are ascribed to “O’Brien”, the narrator, are also true of O’Brien, the author. For instance, O’Brien relates an entire story describing his actions and feelings as he kills a man with a grenade, yet later completely contradicts himself by stating that he never killed a man. It was also very difficult to determine which character names were real or changed, or if the character had been completely fabricated. The lack of chronology in the narratives and knowledge of how each contributes to the novel as a whole adds another layer of confusion. While not always necessary in a work of fiction, the inclusion of a map would have been helpful because the bulk of the stories were set in obscure Vietnamese locations.
I respect the book that O’Brien has written, but as a 17-year-old non-veteran, it did not affect me to the same degree as it would someone of another generation. Although I condemn the inconsistent and non-chronological nature of the book, I understand that it is meant to simulate the experience of war and the mindset of its participants. I found some of the stories told to be engaging, but they did not have as much impact on me because the book is fictional. Reading the book evoked negative emotions, and although this may have been O’Brien’s intent, I could not fully appreciate the larger purpose of the book. I would recommend this book only to my peers who have a particular interest in war and to most adults, particularly veterans.