The Things They Carry Analysis

“The Things They Carry”: Carrying the Weight of Being a Solider and a Man
Society and culture have identified “manliness” as an objective that all “true” men should aspire too. In doing so the masculine gender has become defined not by the individual, but by collective concepts. In times of war these ideas become amplified, because survival is based not only on oneself, but also the man that is standing beside you. From 1954-1975, the Vietnam War would instill specific ideas of masculinity. The male gender developed an acceptance of violence and silent endurance of burden. Writer and Vietnam Veteran, Tim O’Brien, captures these social constructs in his version of “fictional-non-fiction”. Obrien stated that his literature is “for getting at
This weight becomes a symbol of male masculinity and soldier’s requirements. To have social acceptance, the male gender must abandon the frailty associated with femininity. Per estimations the weight a solider carried in Vietnam was approximately 79 plus pounds. O’Brien categories this items in to groupings, such as weapons, survival gear, personal ideas and good luck charms. The weight of personal items, such as talismans, become a way of trying to connect with a forgotten world: home. While war items become a way of disconnecting from humanity. To each solider these items become a symbol of self-sufficiency. In male isolation, autonomy is vital. They cannot express themselves emotionally, therefore they must control their lives externally. Self-reliance allows for the solider to mobilize and progress towards their goal of living. These men become “the sturdy oak…stoic, stable, and independent” (Pollock 23). Thoughts of sovereignty extend past times of war. Historically, members of the male gender require worthiness; they must maintain a physical independence from those around them. Society expects a solider to bodily carry his world with him. Men and soldiers carry “all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (O’Brien 7). The physical weight is not only a reminder of the male gender, but a requirement. In times of peace
Tim O’Brien explores this concept when he simply states, “he was soldier, after all” (O’Brien 23). They must become a cog on the “big wheel…avoid shame” (Pollock 14). War connects men and connect them. Soldiers must prove their worthiness and bravery, not to themselves but to the soldiers that stand beside them. Soldier’s carry the “greatest fear which was the fear of blushing…. It was what brought them to war in the first place, the blush of dishonor” (O’Brien 20). Even though Jimmy Cross wanted to become a “draft dodger”, he knew that cowardliness would follow him for the rest of his life. He felt a responsibility to the men that would stand beside him. He would give up his live; he would not question; there would be no logic. He would be a “real man” and fight. In taking this action, O’Brien expresses the philosophy that the only person who can understand the thoughts of a solider is another solider. Troops walk a path that is unknown to society, but understood by the man who stands next to them on the battlefront. O’Brien continues the exploration of this group dynamics when Cross gives up his personal dream, because of the guilt he feels for the death of fellow solider Lavender. Cross burns the weight of his letters to become more adjusted to the group. He has let go of “sissy stuff...and fell to stereotypically masculine ways” (Pollock 14). In doing this a “new hardness develops in his stomach”