Setting In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried
In Tim O’Brien’s story, The Things They Carried, the way the men idolize their possessions is directly related to the setting of the story. The men face a new and adverse environment when they are sent to Vietnam and carry many different sentimental objects in their packs. Lieutenant Cross holds himself responsible for the loss of one of his men and has his mind set to reform his team and not let the idea of a woman control his thought any longer. It is important to understand how much the setting plays a role in their daily lives. The men depended on their possessions for survival, to hope in a different world, and to learn to appreciate the little things in life. During the war the soldiers had little room left in their packs after their required supplies. If the men could gain an advantage several brought extra essentials. Soldiers in the war setting depended on their possessions to survive. “Henry Dobbins, who is a big man, carried extra rations... Dave Jensen carried a toothbrush, dental floss, and several hotel-sized bars of soap...Ted Lavender carried 34 rounds for the M-79 grenade launcher.”(O’Brien , 500-503) These things brought peace of mind to
…show more content…
the soldiers in the heart of war. They used these things everyday to keep themselves healthier and safer to stay in the long battle. These things would have little use back home in safety, but since the setting is so violent they are a drastically important resource. With hope slipping from the grasp of many tired recruits, they items with them offered something.
Without their possessions, they wouldn’t have had hope in another life outside the war. “Almost everyone humped photographs.”(O’Brien , 501) The men saw that it was necessary to carry pictures of their loved ones. Hope was possibly the most important factor to this war time. The men needed to understand that they were fighting for a purpose. That purpose was to protect those back home, but most importantly, to ensure a reminder that they had something to return to back home. They needed to know that the were cared about and needed to fight to live and return. Lieutenant Cross carried the letters of Martha to keep his head away from the gore and let him know that there are better places for him when it’s all
over.
There were many big objects and decisions in hands of the men in the heat of the battle. The little things were the most important to these men. In the war setting, the few things that each of the men carried made them appreciate the little things. At home a single match or photograph is something of little importance. Overseas, you could see the connection the men had to their objects. “Kiowa carried an illustrated New Testament that had been presented to him by his father.”(O’Brien , 501) This one object that does him no justice towards the war effort is a luxury. He can love its contents, reading and understanding something different, not associated with the war in Vietnam. How then men managed their packs during the war was very different throughout the platoon, however each item was important to its carrier. The men used their possessions as a crutch to lean on, to survive when times were harder. They carried belongings that they could escape to when the war was tearing at their psyche. They brought the little things, that taught them to appreciate everything else back home that they no longer have. The men learned countless lesson no doubt in their hectic situation that we cannot imagine. Without the little things they carried, they would not have been the same people they were and people would have seen them differently.
the soldiers in the heart of war. They used these things everyday to keep themselves healthier and safer to stay in the long battle. These things would have little use back home in safety, but since the setting is so violent they are a drastically important resource. With hope slipping from the grasp of many tired recruits, they items with them offered something.
Without their possessions, they wouldn’t have had hope in another life outside the war. “Almost everyone humped photographs.”(O’Brien , 501) The men saw that it was necessary to carry pictures of their loved ones. Hope was possibly the most important factor to this war time. The men needed to understand that they were fighting for a purpose. That purpose was to protect those back home, but most importantly, to ensure a reminder that they had something to return to back home. They needed to know that the were cared about and needed to fight to live and return. Lieutenant Cross carried the letters of Martha to keep his head away from the gore and let him know that there are better places for him when it’s all
over.
There were many big objects and decisions in hands of the men in the heat of the battle. The little things were the most important to these men. In the war setting, the few things that each of the men carried made them appreciate the little things. At home a single match or photograph is something of little importance. Overseas, you could see the connection the men had to their objects. “Kiowa carried an illustrated New Testament that had been presented to him by his father.”(O’Brien , 501) This one object that does him no justice towards the war effort is a luxury. He can love its contents, reading and understanding something different, not associated with the war in Vietnam. How then men managed their packs during the war was very different throughout the platoon, however each item was important to its carrier. The men used their possessions as a crutch to lean on, to survive when times were harder. They carried belongings that they could escape to when the war was tearing at their psyche. They brought the little things, that taught them to appreciate everything else back home that they no longer have. The men learned countless lesson no doubt in their hectic situation that we cannot imagine. Without the little things they carried, they would not have been the same people they were and people would have seen them differently.