Tim O'Brien told a story called The Things They Carried in which the different aspects of what happened were explained. The title of the tale is used to illustrate the action of physically carrying things, particularly in a war zone or during a battle. It is obvious that troops always bring a variety of items, including those that help them survive and succeed on the battlefield, such as ammunition, weapons, clothing, knives, food, and medications. The title, however, described more than just the act of physically carrying things. The social issue of importance in the story is relationships and personal love in the society. The story indicated that relationships such as private affection, interaction with workmates could inspire commitments and at times cause challenges in the performances of one's duties. The aspect of love and affections is greatly portrayed in the narration, and it includes the private affection, love for the country, and love for one’s job and the challenges involved.
The story demonstrated the tendency of humans to have emotional attachments to loved ones, happenings, workmates, and situations among others. The story mainly discusses the thoughts and deeds of Jimmy Cross who was the Lieutenant of a particular army unit assigned roles in the Vietnam War. The Lieutenant was always preoccupied with the thoughts and imagination of a woman who it appeared he was deeply in love. In the words of the author, it is stated that Jimmy Cross carried Martha across Valleys and swamps. The author, Tim O’Brien writes that “To carry something was to hump it, as when Lieutenant Jimmy Cross humped his love for Martha up the hills and through the swamps. In its intransitive form, to hump meant to walk, or to march, but it implied burdens far beyond the intransitive” (02). The story also mentions other soldiers, some who carried tangible as well as intangible items. Similar to Jimmy Cross, other soldiers such as Henry Dobbins, Henry, Dobbins, Dave Jenson, and Mitchell Sanders tend to carry a variety of items ranging from extra food, machine guns, soaps, radios among others. The author, Tim O’Brien, use the items each soldier carries to portray their characteristic. This piece of paper will discuss a social responsibility issue displayed in the story “The Things They Carried.”
Everyone is entitled to a robust and good relationship with relatives, workmates, and commitment to serving the nation. In the story, it is indicated by Tim O’Brien that “The things they carried were largely determined by necessity” (01). However, when other soldier carried items of life-saving importance, Jimmy Cross is seen carrying very strong feelings of love and affection to a lady known as Martha who she dated before he joined the army. In another soldier named Henry Dobbins, also carried war items and also he carried an item that showed love and affection to her girlfriend. It is stated that “Henry Dobbins carried his girlfriend's pantyhose wrapped around his neck as a comforter. They all carried ghosts” (O’Brien 04).
It is clear that although everyone carried tangible items, everyone had a ghost implying people in their minds who they greatly care about. Jimmy Cross and Henry Dobbins both have pictures of their loved ones, and each time they look at the picture they tend to remind them of great moments as well as trigger great imaginations. The thoughts of Martha tend to affect the productivity of the Lieutenant Jimmy Cross who should be the leader and guide of the army but instead he is always lost in the thoughts of her. The narration implies that these challenges are encountered in the society, and they can be a blessing and in the same time cause great problem if one does not control the emotions (Blum 41). Jimmy Cross fails to control his thought for Martha, and as a result, the troop he leads suffers major repercussions. It stated that Jimmy Cross inability to lead the army was caused by his clouded thoughts and divided attention. It clear that lack of concentration in the army results to several deaths.
The practical aspect of the story, in reality, implies in the ability or inability balance personal love and the love for the job. In all the occasions, one should be able to control his thoughts and perform assigned duties diligently. The war items the soldiers carried can be equated to the jobs performed by people and the responsibilities at hand (Kurtz and Lester 15) . As such, it is prudent to separate the feelings depending on the situation one is handling. The soldiers display great love for the nation and commitment to their jobs. This can is evidenced by the words of the author when he writes that “What they carried varied by mission. When a mission took them to the mountains, they carried mosquito netting, machetes, canvas tarps, and extra bug juice. If a mission seemed especially hazardous, or if it involved a place they knew to be bad, they carried everything they could” (O’Brien 04). This statement makes it crystal clear that the soldier loved their job and was committed to protecting their country. However, personal love life should not be allowed to interfere with a person’s responsibilities as it is the case with Jimmy Cross.
In the story, the love of God and his implied by stating that “On ambush, or other night missions, they carried peculiar little odds and ends. Kiowa always took along his New Testament and a pair of moccasins for silence” (O’Brien 04). The meaning of this is that the soldier too loves God, and rely on his guidance and protection all the time.
In summary, love and commitment is an integral aspect of life. The love for one’s girlfriend, nation and job can never be substituted with anything and balance between all these affections must be kept optimum. In real life, one should balance family love with that of the nation as well as the commitment to personal duties and responsibilities.
Works Cited
Blum, Sarah L. Women Under Fire: Abuse in the Military. , 2013. Print.
O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. London: Flamingo, 2015. Print.
Kurtz, Mariam M, and Lester R. Kurtz. Women, War, and Violence: Topography, Resistance, and Hope. , 2015. Print
