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.