Analysis:
In this book, Tim O'Brien describes his experiences and thoughts through the character Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the leader of a squad of soldiers in Vietnam. He tells the reader about his desires, thoughts, hopes, and emotions. He never wanted to go to Vietnam, he got out of college and was drafted to go into war. He tried to flee to Canada but couldn't because he thought he’d be a societal outcast. Then he is put into training and is sent over to Vietnam to lead a squad of soldiers into battle. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross describes his patrol routes and how pointless the tasks were. They would wander the jungle for days and not even identify any Viet Cong forces. He tells the reader about his thoughts in the fox holes they would dig at night to sleep in. He would talk about his love, Martha, and how he would rather be home and be with her. But instead he is in a country fighting a war he didn't even believe in. He has to lead a group of soldiers and doesn't want their blood on his hand. Another issue O'Brien brings up is the involvement in Vietnam. Since the soldiers didn't believe in fighting the war why was the United States even involved? When would the fighting come to a halt? Will the United States alter their foreign policy to prevent thousands of lives from being lost. This is all discussed in Tim O’Brien’s book, The Things they Carried.
In this book, Tim O'Brien describes his experiences and thoughts through the character Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the leader of a squad of soldiers in Vietnam. He tells the reader about his desires, thoughts, hopes, and emotions. He never wanted to go to Vietnam, he got out of college and was drafted to go into war. He tried to flee to Canada but couldn't because he thought he’d be a societal outcast. Then he is put into training and is sent over to Vietnam to lead a squad of soldiers into battle. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross describes his patrol routes and how pointless the tasks were. They would wander the jungle for days and not even identify any Viet Cong forces. He tells the reader about his thoughts in the fox holes they would dig at night to sleep in. He would talk about his love, Martha, and how he would rather be home and be with her. But instead he is in a country fighting a war he didn't even believe in. He has to lead a group of soldiers and doesn't want their blood on his hand. Another issue O'Brien brings up is the involvement in Vietnam. Since the soldiers didn't believe in fighting the war why was the United States even involved? When would the fighting come to a halt? Will the United States alter their foreign policy to prevent thousands of lives from being lost. This is all discussed in Tim O’Brien’s book, The Things they Carried.