The Seriousness of the Weight and Emotions the Men Carried

The Seriousness of the “Weight” and Emotions the Men Carried

How can one realize the seriousness of a particular event? Situations in history exist only in our thoughts rather than our presence. As past events have unfolded so has the opportunity for growth. One such era includes the Vietnam War. Tim O’ Brien’s short story, titled “The Things They Carried”, creates an atmosphere of knowledge surrounding the struggles related to the Vietnam War. To grasp the concept of such a brutal historical event one must understand the struggles and decisions made by people during that era, thus giving us the capacity to expand our minds. Along with the emotional baggage, or “weight”, many soldiers also had to endure the emotions of being selected to serve by means of drafting. According to fact monster, “All men from 21 to 30 years of age, later extended to 18 to 45, inclusively had to register. Exemptions from service were granted to men who had dependent families, indispensable duties at home, or physical disabilities” (Fact monster par 1).

The Vietnam War sparked many controversial topics and views. Some wanted peace and others wanted war. In the end the political machine waged a confrontation with what it believed to be an opportunity. Tim O’ Brien was a soldier who was drafted in 1968 to serve for our benefit. He was reluctant to go and even attempted to flee. He changed his mind and was eventually sent to the front lines of battle. While there, he

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witnessed the “Things People Carried” with them. These things could be physical or emotional. In his short story, I realized that each physical burden underscores an emotional one. These physical and emotional burdens were carried from the beginning of the men’s service until their deaths. The major conflict conveyed by Tim O’Brien deals with the grappling effects of the Vietnam War. In his story he talks about all the men in his company and how each event affected them. He also shows their struggles and how the physical and emotional burdens either weakened them or strengthened them in a traumatic time.

The War itself proved to be very costly. Many men lost their lives for an undefined cause. With utilization of the selective service, many men were drafted to the military with no choice of denial. On the website, Selective Service System, “Today, the Selective Service System continues to satisfy its statutory obligations while providing the only time-tested mechanism to backup the all-volunteer military when needed” (Selective Service System par 2). Tim O’ Brien also relays the effects of soldiers after the war. Even when the men went home they still carried the burdens as if they were welded to their souls. In many instances the deaths the men witnessed haunted them, while in the midst of war their minds did strange things to them. Some men would never live to see a normal day again. Some men were strong, and some were proven to be weak when faced with struggle. All the events of battles and deaths are reconstructed through the memory of Tim O’ Brien and the comrades of his company. All the feelings of grief, love, longing, morality and loneliness are visible within each man. All these stories and actions are put together through

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interconnected stories of the years spent in Vietnam by a soldier who felt these feelings as well.

The author shows that even in a time of despair bonds can occur. The men of that company shared a type of friendship that could not be duplicated in any other circumstance other than war. These men marched together into the unknown and understood that death was not too far behind them. They would smoke, drink, laugh, and reminisce about the homeland together. Some men cracked with the pressure and some grew stronger. According to the book review, “The men in the company carry talismans, such letters from home or equipment whose presence they find comforting. They tell stories to each other. They get Dear John letters. They get wounded, or wound themselves to get away from the front. And they get killed -- by being shot, by stepping on a mine, or by being drowned in mud” (Book review par 1). The story leads to the ending point of the life after the war. The author relays the message that you never really stop remembering the past. Whether or not it was a good thing to do didn’t matter at all. They were there and it had happened, so many truths can be realized through such an event. Tim starts as a young man scared of what will come. He travels through the war and meets a lot of people carrying a lot of different things. He sees many men die and even kills a few by himself. He luckily makes it out of the