Tim O’Brien’s work is a revelation of the Alpha Company’s men lives during their days in the war. It is a reflection on the memories of old yet which is portrayed with a great sense of symbolism and style. It revolves around the lives of soldiers at work and who carry several items which they require during the period that they are away on war and missions. Among these are the usual military necessities such as guns, ponchos, packed food, camouflage material. The author engages necessity yet mentions love as Lieutenant’s Cross weightiest baggage. It would be right to imagine that the lieutenant was in love with Martha, so much so that love would also be considered a necessity for militants. Inasmuch as these people stay away from the general public while working, they are in need of affection and love as the rest of humanity and so is their capacity to offer such love. The thought of together-while-apart that Martha explains through a letter to Lieutenant Cross is an indication of how love works when people are together and apart. This is not only Cross’ thought but the simple poetry that the rest of the soldiers live with.
This story depicts very small matters which are basic military routines. It uses such ordinary occurrences to explain beyond the surface of war and reveal the issues that are experienced in war and which are not bloodshed and death. It portrays the emotions of militants and how they adopt to their daily environments as they change. It seems that war is a risk where one could die or survive. As such, soldiers, keep changing to adjust to their environment by obtaining better working items as they need them. While each item has its weight, it is only a necessity and has to be carried around. Love is also a necessity for Cross and which he has carried along for a very long time.
Works Cited
O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. London: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. Print.
