Summary Of The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

In Tim O’brien’s short story, “The Things They Carried,” O’brien explains more than just what people face at war. O’Brien gives detail of each burden, struggle, and memory each soldier carries into the war. He describes of a battle more destructive than a war filled with guns, bombs, and knives. He describes of a mind battle, one in which is the hardest any man can face. A mind battle controls your every decision. O’Brien explains it is important to have your mind battle-free so distractions will not flood your attempt of making successful decisions.
Each soldier carried more than just big controlling weapons; they carried distractions. Each soldier carried individual different items which caused them each to be distracted from the real mission. The items were determined by necessity. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters along with the two photographs of Martha, the woman he loved, in his wallet. Henry Dobbins carried his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck as a comforter. Dave Jensen, who practiced hygiene, carried floss and a toothbrush. Mitchell Sanders carried condoms. Norman Bowker carried a diary. Rat Kiley carried comic books. Kiowa, a devout Baptist, carried a New Testament bible, which was presented to him by his father. Each item held a small story. The individual items gave each soldier a memory to hold on to.

He explains of the battle of facing heartbreak while trying to control everything else. Lieutenant Cross carried love letters from a girl name Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College. More than anything, he wanted Martha to love him as he loved her, but the letters were filled with pointless conversations, exclusive on the matter of romance. Martha singed each letter with “Love, Martha,” but Lieutenant Cross understood that Love was only a way of signing and Martha did not mean it in the way he pretended she did. Cross thought about Martha each and every day. (Pg.