The Things They Carried Blog #4

Multiple times within these final chapters, small happenings seem to reflect bigger things. The ending of this novel added a new outlook on the entirety of the book! For example in "Field Trip" the reader and other non-veterans are indirectly compared to Kathleen, the "New-by" in the war scene. Starting with the title, a field trip is nothing more than a childish voyage, an unappreciated trip. "This is stupid," (pg. 186) is how Kathleen described her experience, not being able to appreciate the incredible historical and emotional feelings that the veterans can. Neither the reader, nor Kathleen, nor anyone else who has been in war, can truly appreciate the significance of the Vietnam War and the emotions behind the battle field. I think this is one of O’Brien’s main points he wants to get across throughout the book: that no one can truly understand and empathize with those who have experienced warfare. 

Lastly, a line that really struck home with me was “stories can save us.” (pg 225) I think that is another deep theme throughout the novel that O’Brien wants to emphasize. He wants to convey that the soldiers’ telling of stories can be their saving grace. That getting the brutal war stories off of their chests can relieve an enormous emotional pressure.

All in all, I believe what the reader should take away from this book is that veterans’ emotional turmoil cannot be understood fully by civilians, and that that is ok. 

The Things They Carried Blog #3

   Paralleling the death of Lavender in previous chapters, the way the author discusses the Vietnamese man's death  in The Man I Killed very similarly. Rather than discussing the death in first person, like in most other stories, O'Brien tells this tale from the point of view as an outsider looking in. I think he might do this to distance himself from the reality that he just brutally killed someone. Focusing on the pleasant details, if any, within the scene, such as "small blue flowers like bells (pg.128)," or "the butterfly on his [the dead man's] chin (pg. 124)," O'Brien is able to block out the horrific details. On top of that though, he also makes up details about "John Doe," his life, dreams, and even love connections.
    This theme of making the best out of less-than-pleasant situations continues into the chapter Style. Within this chapter O'Brien tells a story of a teenage girl dancing with "a graceful movement of her hips (pg. 136)" even though her entire family had just been burned in their house. Traditionally, dancing has been associated with happiness which really contrasts the bitter mood of the scene. It is quite unexpected for someone to be "quiet and composed," all the while DANCING, directly after tragedy overcomes their life!
    Another example of hiding from the events of the war is when Norman Bowker went home after the war. Just like in The Man I killed, the character creates fake scenarios about people in his imagination.  In this example, Bowker “tells” his war stories to people back home when, in actuality, his mind is just playing out the scenario in his head. Not only does he retell the stories to himself, he does so in such a way that he still sounds courageous and humble to the nonexistent listeners, “keeping his voice cool (with) no self pity (pg. 145).” On top of that he also imagines his “listeners” reactions and emotions, which seems to actually parallel his self value, or lack thereof. In the case of his father, Bowker imagines that his father “would have sighed, folded his arms, and waited.” Bowker may just feel inferior or needing to prove himself.