The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

200,00 people died in the vietnam war. Imagine watching people die in front of you, getting shot at and having to come home and return to “normal”. That is what Tim O’Brien had to go through. It took him 20 years to be able to come to terms with memories and write a novel. The novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien is a nonlinear book, which is a book that is told out of order. O’Brien made the novel this way because that is how memories work. He wanted a place to gather his thoughts and feelings about vietnam. This novel is about his memories and the people with him in the war. O’Brien uses the themes morality and shame/guilt to have the audience be able to connect with his memories. Also to understand the story more deeply.
In the chapter “How to Tell a True War Story” the theme is morality. That is evident because O’Brien shows that war brings out the good and bad morals in people. In the beginning of the chapter it focuses on the good morals. The chapter is about O’Briens war stories. The one that is most prevalent is how Kurt Lemon dies. He talks about Rat Kiley and how he is good person. O’Brien shows this by giving us and example of what he does. Kiley writes “Anyway, it’s a terrific letter, very personal and touching. Rat
In the chapter O’Brien is taking his daughter back to vietnam. He shows her the field where Kiowa died, she thinks it is boring. He is there to to put to rest the guilt that he has. He swims in the river and puts Kiowas moccasins where he believes Kiowa is resting. They get back to the jeep and O'Brien's daughter asks “‘That old man,’ she said, ‘is he mad at you or something?’ ‘I hope not.’ ‘He looks mad.’ ‘No.’ I said, ‘All that’s finished’” (O Brien 179). He felt guilty until after he traveled back to vietnam. And that is what he was telling his daughter in that quote. He feels he settled it with Kiowa. Going to vietnam made him let go of the guilt he