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The Things that Carried Them by Tim O'brien 

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The Things that Carried Them by Tim O'brien 

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At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, who is in love with a girl named Martha. Jimmy Cross makes some questionable and borderline predatory remarks about Martha, which show that he is insane about this girl. However, the more I learned about Martha, the more I could understand why she never really reciprocated the feeling. Martha reminds me of Emily Dickinson, who was more focused on poetry and literature than romances. Based on my assumptions about Martha, this is how I would reply publicly if I were her reading this book: ‘ Hello, it is I, Martha, from “The Things They Carried” and I would like to address and explain my part. I am dedicated to the craft of the art of literature, I express myself through poetry in many ways. And I will admit I have never had a desire to marry because I married to art, nature, and self. Frankly, when Jimmy told me he wished he had done something “courageous” and tied me up to the bed and “rubbed that left knee all night” with me after one friendly outing I was applauded and disappointed that he was just like the very thing I despise about society and men. I viewed Jimmy as a dear friend going through a tough and dire situation and thought a piece of home would comfort him differently. After all, it was just a rock that represented how we are in two separate worlds we can still be there for each other in solitary” Martha is an intellectual and the only reason I believe she even apologized to Jimmy is because of the time she lived in.

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This book is narrated by O'Brien. In the chapter titled "Rainy River," I learned that he went to Vietnam himself after grappling with the decision to escape the draft. O'Brien's sharing his own story changed my perspective of him and added even more credibility to his war stories. I believe it is part of the reason he added his own story, because in the past he wrote war novels based on what he experienced and heard but he never shared his own. His story illustrates the conflict between survival and honor that many young males experienced during the draft. Fortunately, his trip served as a type of awakening and provided the break and exposure he needed at that time. The drive to the border of America and Canada, along with finding the inn, made me feel as though I was truly experiencing the moment, especially when he discussed the concept of honor and how the town would gossip. However, the townspeople were not fully educated about the war, which made it difficult for them to understand why O’Brien wanted to flee to Canada. The kind innkeeper, who seemed to know why O’Brien was there even before he said anything, took him to the water's edge of Canada, allowing O’Brien to make a run for it. This moment gave O’Brien a sense of control back in his life and a greater understanding of self and duty. During the Vietnam War draft, many men likely shared O’Brien’s feelings; while some were able to evade the draft, most of the draft evaders were wealthy enough to afford the fines and bribes necessary to avoid service. O'Brien added his own story to admit his guilt and how he feels ashamed being portrayed as a War hero through writing.  As Americans, you cannot talk about the Vitenam War without talking about all sides because it was for many years society was lied to about what was occurring during this time. The majority of the time this is by bringing up political leaders and war protestors but it is important to acknowledge the common man in all this chaos. O'Brien had carried guilt and shame his entire life because of this, he never told his parents and as America was concerned he followed all the rules and was satisfied with being drafted as one could be this adds to how the things the soldiers carried did not love them back. O’Brien loved his family and community but he knew if he failed to comply with the draft and societal expectations he would disgrace his family and lose the love of his community.

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O’Brien tells this story of his fellow soldiers getting into a physical altercation, I can vividly imagine the timid and shocked O’Brien witnessing this and having to tolerate the antics afterward but to me it feels more spectator than a soldier. The purpose of this story is to show how although the soldiers only had themselves and loved each other like brothers the war can corrode that love and make it to paranoia of betrayal. O’Brien connects this incident to the audience because the altercation is very childish and reminds me of when people fight with their siblings and one cries si to make them feel better and not get in trouble you tell them to hit you back so it’s even.  It highlights exactly how young these soldiers were. Stress can make someone irrational and irritated, this fight between the soldiers was speculated by O’Brien because of a missing switchblade. In war emotions, particularly anger, are very high so when Jenhason broke Strunk's nose and kept hitting it was jenhsons pent-up resentment and anger from his situation. This text adds depth to the characters and delivers shock value. It adds to the big picture because the unit is like family so they all love each other but at times they do not but they will still carry each other.

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blog #4  chapter who to tell a good war story

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blog #4  chapter who to tell a good war story

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the chapter ”How to tell a good war story” is super interesting. He says a real war story isn’t moral; it doesn’t try to teach you a lesson or encourage good behavior. Instead, it shows the brutal and messy reality of war without sugarcoating it. This makes the story feel more real because actual war experiences are complicated and don’t have clear moral endings. O’Brien also mentions that a good war story is unapologetic and aligns with the obscenity and evil of war, which helps to show the true nature of what soldiers go through. He also believes that a good war story makes you feel it’s true in a way that hits you in the gut. It’s so convincing that it makes your stomach believe it, even if it seems unbelievable. This emotional and physical reaction is what makes it authentic. O’Brien points out that these stories never really end, showing how the impact of war stays with soldiers forever. Plus, a good war story focuses on specific experiences and sensory details, like how dawn spreads out on a river, rather than generalizing or analyzing too much. This attention to detail makes the story more personal and relatable, helping us understand the unique experiences of each soldier.

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O’brein in the chapter  “Dentists” is humorous in this situation. This adds to O’bierjs credibility because there is always a try-hard or tough guy in the group who has childish fears this chapter represents what it is like to be working with them so it adds credibility to how O’brien met a variety of different personalities during his time of service. O’Brien wants us to laugh with him because although most war stories are those of violence and sadness there are also funny ones that are relatable. After all, a character like Curt Lemon is not niche to war. The audience has all met a personality like Curt Lemon but we have also seen Curt Lemon from time to time so the intended audience could be a vast majority of people. Although it takes place during the Vietnam War the audience does not need prior knowledge to an extent to enjoy this chapter.  The spark of need for this text is to give a break from the other depressing war stories and the ones to come it also has relatablity. Ultimately though it adds how Curt Lemon carried his love for the macho-ness of the war but the war caused him to face his childhood fear of the dentist and betrayed his outside persona.

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Blog #6 Sweetheart of the song Tra Bong-stockings 

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Blog #6 Sweetheart of the song Tra Bong-stockings 

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In chapters “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” to “Stockings” the speaker is Rat, one of O’briens war buddies who was at a compound where the events took place Rat is a medic who is remembered for his storytelling abilities by stretching the truth. Which just adds to the mystery of it all. The purpose is to show how can someone be easily impressionable by the war in Vietnam, often in the book they say how your soul can get lost in the jungle. She is painted as an innocent small-town girl who unlocks her perhaps true self or calling and joins the greenies which are a special ops team. They say that the land in Vietnam is alive and is active spiritually and can haunt someone to be possessed by it. These chapters, it prove how it is not just boys who can act violently or get lost in the land because in the book previously there is no talk about the female movement and jobs during the Vietnam War. Adds to the big picture because it reflects the loss of innocence due to the war. Both Mark and Mary had a love for the “perfect life” that they carried but due to the war that life did not happen for them

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In chapter “Stockings” talks about the comfort of belief. Dobbins ties his girlfriend's stockings around his neck to protect him from getting hurt by the war and brings a sense of normalcy. However, his girlfriend broke up with him in the middle of the war in a letter which was the biggest heartbreak from Dobbins because without her he loses the sense of a separate world besides war. I believe Dobbins would listen to this playlist while holding the stockings to cope with the pain.

Wicked games by the Weekend

At My Weakest by James Arthur

All I Want by Olivia Rodrigo

Godspeed by Frank Ocean

Breakeven by The Script

Feeling Whitney by Post Malone

Love You from a Distance by Ashely Kutcher

Holding on to Letting Go by Scott Quinn

WYD Now? By Sadie Jean

Glimpse of Us by Joji

Die with a smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

Train Wreck by James Arthur

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In the chapter Ghost Soldiers, O’Brien speaks about his experience when he got shot which adds to his credibility as an author giving the readers real-life vitenam war experiences. O’Brien wants his revenge on the new medic who took very long to attend to him when he got shot in the behind and almost died of shock. O'Brien states that the rage that filled him for revenge was unusual to him, and how he felt let out because he had to be transferred to a compound instead of his team. This relates to the audience because sometimes we can act out on our emotions that normally we wouldn’t let control us and we have all felt left out. O'Brien got his revenge by pranking the medic when the team stopped at the compound to re-stock. During the Vietnam War, the soldiers had to take shifts on surveillance, and at nighttime, by yourself, you can get easily paranoid and reactive. Once again, O'Brien is confessing his wrongdoings in the war. Although after the prank O’biren and the medic called a truce, O’biren still feels that this act was out of character of him and is ashamed his heart got full of anger. War can make you irrational and lose innocence.

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In the chapter "Night Life" from Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried," the narrative delves into the psychological toll of war on soldiers. The chapter focuses on Rat Kiley, a medic in the platoon, who begins to unravel under the constant stress and fear of night patrols. The soldiers are required to move only at night to avoid detection, which upends their natural rhythms and exacerbates their anxiety and paranoia. Rat Kiley’s descent into madness is depicted through his increasingly erratic behavior and vivid hallucinations. He starts to imagine bugs crawling under his skin and sees visions that aren’t there. This behavior reflects the extreme mental strain that soldiers endure and underscores the theme of the war's relentless psychological impact. The chapter portrays how the darkness of night symbolizes the unknown and the soldiers' inner fears, making their experiences even more harrowing. The other soldiers notice Rat’s deteriorating condition, but there’s a sense of helplessness as they can’t do much to alleviate his suffering. Eventually, Rat shoots himself in the foot to escape the war, an act that highlights the lengths to which soldiers might go to find relief from their torment. This chapter shows the intense and often unbearable mental burden carried by those in combat.

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One common critique of the book is the blending of fact and fiction. This aspect, while enriching the narrative and showcasing the complexities of war, can confuse some readers. The lines between reality and imagination often blur, making it tough to discern what actually happened versus what’s shaped by the soldiers’ memories and interpretations. This blending can definitely enhance the emotional weight of the story, but some readers might feel frustrated, wanting clearer boundaries between historical events and narrative creativity, especially with the stories told by Rat, known for his larger-than-life tales. Another frequent point of critique is the book's fragmented structure. O’Brien’s nonlinear storytelling reflects the chaotic nature of war, illustrating how memories can come up in jumbled fragments rather than a tidy timeline. However, this approach can be challenging for some readers to follow, potentially disrupting the flow of the narrative and causing some frustration, which can detract from the overall impact of the story. while the book dives deep into the emotional and psychological toll on soldiers, critics point out that it sometimes glances over the broader historical and political details of the Vietnam War. By focusing on individual experiences and personal trauma, O’Brien paints a powerful picture of combat life. That said, readers looking for a more comprehensive perspective on the Vietnam War might feel a bit let down if they want to explore the larger implications and context of the conflict. Overall, these critiques highlight certain challenges within the book but also reflect the intricacies of storytelling when it comes to war. The interplay between personal memory and collective history resonates strongly throughout O’Brien's work, showing how individual stories shape our understanding of shared experiences and the broader implications they carry.