A Critical Analysis Of The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

“The Things They Carried”: A Critical Analysis In the short story “The Things They Carried” Tim O’Brien shares with the readers the inner thoughts of a soldier during the Vietnam War. In the story we learn about the physical and emotional tolls that are taken on each individual. The physical weight of the items they carry signify the individuality of each soldier, or “by necessity.” (O’Brien 2) Each had there “necessities or near-necessities” met by the items they carried with them. (O’Brien 2) They also carried items for good luck as well as items that pertained to their specific job duties. The author goes on to describe the physical weight that comes with these items, and how they match up to the soldiers that carry them.

For Lieutenant

“A canvas satchel full of morphine, plasma, and M&Ms.” (O’Brien 5) While the medical supplies were to ease the physical wounds, the M&Ms were for the emotional comfort of those who had been injured. Having something like candy helps to ease them into a sense of comfort, like a little piece of

While they “humped” through the jungle they were reminded of the physical discomfort of these items. The emotional weight was another aspect of their daily lives all together. Having to deal with death and injury of others, as well as the fear of being killed or injured themselves. Often the emotional weight can be harder to bare then that of the physical weight. The author takes us through their journey piece by piece. Reading this story we can imagine what it would have been like to be a soldier during the Vietnam War. It humanizes the war, and lets us feel for the soldiers as they go through their daily