Love In The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

In 1990, Tim O’Brien published a powerful collection of short stories that was carefully composed into the novel, The Things They Carried. This novel has allowed many readers to gain insight on the appalling, yet realistic aspects of the Vietnam War that are otherwise not typically shared. O’Brien takes specific events from his own war life and applies them to stories in which various characters learn lessons on integrity, politics, rationality, life, and love. Without a doubt, O’Brien tackles difficult themes regarding life at war that allows others to feel the pain and horror that the characters are experiencing. Beyond the plethora of the themes shared, O’Brien specifically emphasizes how difficult situations can test the strength of love

Love, however, does not automatically refer to the cliche notions of romance and pleasure that fiction novels commonly portray. Love, rather, is a symbolic theme that explains the level of dedication and commitment that one not only holds with their significant other, but also others that surround that person, with the places near them, and most importantly, with themselves. The connection between Martha and Lieutenant Jimmy Cross suggests unrealistic love. The two characters clearly have an unhealthy relationship, and this can be seen by Lieutenant Cross’ overly affectionate obsession with Martha. This one-sided love causes for a great deal of tension and conflict. Out of respect for his fellow soldiers, Cross attempts to flee his obsessions with Martha and strictly focus on the war. To perform such a dramatic transition, Cross burns the letters and the two pictures he has of Martha, “Stupid he thought. Sentimental, too, but mostly stupid.” (23) The juxtaposition of these two opposing ideas shines light onto the intense dedication Cross has with this relationship. He has put so much unnecessary thought into his relationship, while Martha tends to see him as simply an acquaintance. The allusion, “Mount Sebastian…” (24), is delivered strategically throughout this passage. As yet another way to explain this one-sided relationship, O’Brien alludes to Mount Sebastian, which is the college Martha attended as a youth. The reference to this location emphasizes the extent of the separation between the two individuals and the impact it has on their love. In addition, the following sentence states, “...it was a another world…” (24) which also explains how distance can affect the love shared by two people. Cross understood that the possibility of the two of them having a romantic relationship was not realistic, however, his obsession with her and the idea of love prevented him from