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Theme Of Courage And Cowardice In The Things They Carried

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Jared Kolaris Debra Galler English 10-4(D-US) 01 June 2023 Courage and cowardice portrayed in The Things They Carried In Tim O'brien's venturesome and wretched novel, “The things they carried”, Tim undertakes an interesting exploration of the nature of courage and cowardice. O’Brien’s deliberate choice to dive into these qualities within the lines of war proves their significance and implies a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature. In this novel, His exploration of the nature of courage and cowardice presents challenges of oversimplified ideas or narrow views on bravery and fear. By showing that even brave shoulders experience fear and doubt, and their actions can not simply be defined as courageous or cowardly. This …show more content…

O'Brien dives into the complexities of these qualities, by Admitting, “ I was no Soldier. I hated Boy Scouts. I hated camping out. I hated dirt and mosquitoes” (O'Brien 39). This quote shows that O'Brien initially didn't like anything that had to do with war and he was not inclined or pushed to be brave. However, as this chapter continues he faces a moral dilemma. His dilemma was to either go out and fight in a war he did not support, or to stay home at a job and life that he hates. He also had one more option: he wanted to flee to Canada to escape everything: the war, his job, and his life. He says, “ It was a moral split. I couldn't make up my mind. I feared the war, yes, but I also feared exile.”(O'Brien 42) This reveals Tim's real struggle between fear and courage, as he weighs the consequences of participating in the war or avoiding it. O'Brien also has outside parties that he felt pressured by to make a decision. for example “ I feared losing the respect of my parents”(O'Brien 42). O'Brien presents these contrasting feelings through his writing to highlight the complexity of courage and cowardice in the midst of War. By doing this he encourages his readers to reconsider their understanding of these qualities and to recognize their significance in the lives of those who experienced the realities of War. He asks readers to embrace a more nuanced understanding of these

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