“The Things They Carried” is a non-fiction that centers on the main character Tim O’Brien about his experience in the Vietnam War. The novel starts with him and author listing off different things that his company, The Alpha Company carried with them when they were on assignment doing missions. The novel is a series of different stories, but some of the same characters weave in and out of them. Many of the things within the story mean more than is readily apparent and are symbolic of deeper meaning. This essay looks at some of the symbolism found within the book and also the pathetic fallacy, which is defined by the dictionary as “The Attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals.”
Symbolism appears from what each object represents. The things people carry outside of what the army required them to carry, so much about the people who are carrying the object, which is the definition of the pathetic fallacy, non-living objects taking on a life.
In talking about Rat Kiley, who was a medic, he carried more than just what he was required to, “Morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape” (O’Brien, 5). But he also carried candy, M&M’s for “Especially bad wounds.” This showed his humanity and regard for the other shoulders well being.
The pathetic fallacy appears in the way that the author gets to the heart and triggering emotions from readers. And example is the following quotation, which is nothing short of both difficult to read, but still beautiful in a way. “They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first placeno dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid the blush of dishonor. They died so as not to die of embarrassment.” (O’Brien). Throughout the book, the surroundings, sometimes the jungle is used to reflect what characters are feeling inside.
Source
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
