The Things They Carried

Introduction

The topic under study includes developing two journals. The purpose of journal one is to address the issue of truth and fiction which O'Brien raises. Moreover, it includes answers to at least two of the questions given Questions. These questions are “What are the things you carry? These things would be more than physical objects they carried "the common secret of cowardice" and question two, I was a coward, and I went to war. Is not war based on courage?” Journal two includes a complete search about the three philosophers which are Pythagoras, Heraclitus and Empedocles. This discussion pertains to a limited part of the journal, whereas, the remaining part focuses on Socrates' Apology.

Journal 1

Issue of truth and fiction Raised by O'Brien

The work that O'Brian has presented raises issues of truth and fiction. A distinction between truth and the fact that O'Brian created in “The things they carried”. There are notes at the end of stories which tells the ways in which stories are fictional. “The things they carried” by O'Brien according to the critics asserts at a central theme of a relationship between truth and storytelling. O'Brien's interest was to raise the issues of truth and fiction from his experiences of Vietnam War. This experience also serves as the central characteristics of the book (O'Brien, p.77). O'Brian raised an issue through this story include the effects of trauma combat and the struggle for redemption and recovery. Moreover, other important themes in the story are the role of memory, and the concern of cowardice. Combat cowardice concern, in the story, is not only related to combat but also in the narrator's choice to participate in what he feels is an unjust war. In context to these issues, O'Brian states, “a story is truthful if it “makes the stomach believe”. This means that O'Brian has raised all the issues to refer the difference between truth and fiction. Furthermore, the representation of masculinity and femininity also been analyzed by the commentators of the book.

Questions

1. What is some of the things you carry?

These things would be more than physical objects: they carried "the common secret of cowardice". One of the examples of this is of Lt. Cross. He got pulled away from Vietnam because of his love for Maratha on imaginative fight. ''Kneeling, watching the hole, he tried to concentrate on Lee Stunk and the war, all the dangers, but his love was too much for him, he felt paralyzed, he wanted to sleep in her lungs and breathe her blood and be smothered." According to Lt. Cross, he considers himself for the death of lavender and the burning of letters and photographs from Maratha. His understanding drives his disaffection from the group, you could die of carelessness and utter stupidity, and that he is responsible for the others. His choice of Maratha based on his love was his biggest mistake which he realized after. His wrong choice between war and Maratha experienced by him ...