Juxtaposition In The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried is a fascinating and illuminating novel written by Tim O'Brien. Published in 1990, it is a collection of interconnected short stories that depicts the experiences of American soldiers during the Vietnam War. In his novel The Things They Carried Tim O’Brien employs Juxtaposition to create the effect of long-term effects of trauma and an abrupt, violent loss of innocence. The chapters “The Man I Killed”, “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”, and “How to Tell a True War Story” work together to produce this effect.

Lieutenant Cross shows guilt and responsibility in "The Man I Killed" chapter through his introspective thoughts and actions. One example is when he reflects on the death of the Vietnamese soldier he killed, feeling remorseful and taking responsibility for the act, stating, "Lieutenant Cross felt the weight. He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war" (O'Brien, 115). This quote illustrates how Lieutenant Cross blames himself

reality is illustrated through the transformation of Mary Anne Bell, a young American girl who accompanies her boyfriend to the Vietnam War. At first, the soldiers are attracted to Mary Anne's beauty and femininity, expecting her to remain innocent and fragile during the brutality of war. However, as she becomes increasingly fixed in the harsh realities of combat, her transformation is described: "She was dangerous. She was ready for the kill. She was 17 years old, a kid, but she'd crossed the border into womanhood… she was part of the land. She was wearing her culottes, for instance. And a light sweater" (O'Brien, 89). This quote demonstrates how Mary Anne's reality defies the soldiers' expectations, as she embraces the brutal nature of war and sheds her initial innocence, ultimately becoming a different person