The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried" is a short story that explores the experiences of soldiers during the Vietnam War. The story depicts the physical and emotional weight that soldiers carry with them during the war, highlighting the challenges that soldiers face both on and off the battlefield. Through the items that the soldiers carry with them, the story reveals the emotional and physical burdens of war and the masking of emotions because of masculine identity.
The story begins with a list of items that the soldiers carry with them, ranging from physical items such as guns and ammunition to intangible items such as fear and guilt. The list serves to highlight the weight that soldiers carry with them, both physically and emotionally,

Masculine Identity is seen as a way men should act. How men should be seen as these emotionless machines, that are supposed to be strong in every situation. The soldiers in the story are all men, and the culture of the military places a significant emphasis on masculinity and toughness. The items that the soldiers carry with them become symbolic of their masculine identity, and the weight that they carry becomes a measure of their strength and resilience. For example, Lt. Cross carries letters from a girl back home, He holds them tight, and as the author states, “imagine romantic camping trips in the White Mountains in New Hampshire” (O’Brien 1157). The letter symbolizes his longing for love and connection during the war. Ted Lavender carries tranquilizers to deal with his anxiety, revealing the soldiers' fear and psychological trauma. Ted seemed to be scared due to the author stating” Ted Lavender, who was scared” (O’Brien 1157). The needles helped deal with his anxiety as well as others. Norman Bowker carries a thumb he cut off a dead Viet Cong (O’Brien 1163), which symbolizes his desire for validation and recognition in the eyes of his fellow soldiers. By carrying the thumb, Norman Bowker wants to show this emotionless persona that everyone else is trying to show as well. The soldiers' items show that even in the most extreme and violent circumstances, men are still human beings with complex emotional lives

The hat is a symbol of Kiowa’s desire to survive and make it home alive. The fact that Kiowa carries the hat with him always suggests that he is struggling to hold onto his sense of identity and purpose in the face of the chaos and uncertainty of war. The hat becomes a symbol of the soldiers’ desire to survive and make it back home, and the toll that war takes on their sense of self. The character of Kiowa is also portrayed as a kind and sensitive man who is deeply affected by the horrors of war. However, he feels pressure to conform to the masculine norms of his peers, and ultimately, he is killed while trying to retrieve his Bible from a muddy river. This scene highlights the conflict between vulnerability and strength that underlies the soldiers'