Theme Of Courage In The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, revolves around the frequent theme of courage however, his perception of courage is ignorant considering the actual meaning of courage. O’Brien uses courage as an antidote to the physical and moral weakness in the soldiers of Vietnam creating character obsession over his interchangeable perception of courage and weakness. Not going to war when drafted is perceived as weak, but O’Brien believes that going to war when one wants to flee is Canada is arguable weakness. O’Brien believes no matter how strong or courageous a solider presumes to be it will never seem to be enough; weakness will always prevail because they are “too frightened to be cowards” (24). In looking at all works of literature from