In The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of escape, conflict, guilt, acceptance and responsibility. Taken from his collection of the same name the story is narrated in the third person and after first reading the story the reader becomes aware of the significance of the title of the story. O’Brien (throughout the story) lists all the items that each soldier carries as they struggle through the war. By listing each item O’Brien manages to highlight to the reader the burden that each man carries, not only physically but emotionally as well. It may also be significant that by listing each item (particularly personal items), O’Brien is in some ways not only personalizing each man for the reader but is also exploring each man’s …show more content…
At night Cross would read Martha’s letters or look at the pictures of her, imagining himself to be with her. This is important as just like Kiowa, Cross is escaping from the reality (war) he finds himself in. O’Brien also mentions Rat Kiley’s comics and the tranquilizers and dope that Ted Lavender carries with him. Also Henry Dobbins wears a pair of his girlfriend’s stockings around his neck. Again symbolically these items are important as they also suggest the idea of escape. Each man having different methods to escape from the realities around …show more content…
As Lee Strunk is searching the tunnel, after drawing the number 17, there is a sense that Strunk, though he is aware of how dangerous the task of searching tunnels is, accepts that it is his turn. Likewise as the other men are drinking Kool-Aid, waiting for Strunk, Mitchell Sanders says ‘you win some, you lose some.’ This statement is important as it suggests that just like Strunk, Sanders accepts that part of his role as a soldier is to search tunnels regardless of how dangerous it is. However the most significant incident in the story, which demonstrates acceptance, is the fact that Cross accepts that he, through lack of concentration, may have been responsible for Ted Lavender’s