New Critical/Formalist Critique
Student Name
Westrick
English 1102
8 October 2017
Westrick
English 1102
8 October 2017
An Analysis of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a story about conflict. It is both a simple, yet underlyingly complex concept in this story. It portrays conflict in many different forms: external, internal, and metaphysical. All of these forms of conflict exist for Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and his men as they fight alongside each other in Vietnam, and each man reacts to and manages these struggles in different ways. The use of the Vietnam War is the perfect stage for O’Brien to portray how different conflicts and stresses affect individuals, and how it reveals the raw humanity of the soldiers fighting the war.
Externally, conflict is represented by the war in which Cross and his men are fighting. External and physical are synonymous in this context, as these men are in a state of conflict with their physical environment and events that surround them. There is the jungle, with all the insects, the foliage, and the rough terrain which themselves present conflicts to the men. There is also the rain and the heat, the tunnels they must scout, and of course the enemy soldiers. All of these factors force the men to carry several items to deal with these dangers, presenting yet another physical conflict: one between them and the weight they must carry. They carry guns, notably Henry Dobbins, who carries a 23-pound M-60 machine gun and several pounds of ammo. They also carry ponchos, bug repellent, food, water, medical supplies in Rat Kiley’s case, boots and so many other things that both burden and help protect these men from their surroundings. These external conflicts are the most immediately threatening to the lives of the soldiers, made evident by the bullet that ended the life of Ted Lavender.
The internal conflicts facing these men concern emotion. Jimmy Cross’ internal conflict is his love for Martha, a girl he knew before he was sent to Vietnam. He distracts himself with thoughts of Martha, spending much of his time daydreaming and fantasizing about her reciprocating his feelings for her. Later in the story, after Ted Lavender is shot, his emotional conflict morphs into self-loathing and guilt, as he blames himself for what happened because of his focus on Martha as opposed to his men. Furthermore, all of the men struggle with fear. Fear not of dying, however. O’Brien states that “they carried a soldier’s greatest fear, which is the fear of blushing” (O’Brien). These men endure the internal conflict of fear vs. pride. They are too afraid of showing cowardice, of appearing shameful or lacking honor. So they fight, and they die. That is the internal struggle raging inside most of these men: the fear of dying and the fear of dishonor.
The metaphysical conflict refers to the internal and external conflicts interacting with both the men and each other. A conflict between conflicts. It is a very abstract concept, but these internal and external forces each pull at Jimmy Cross and his men. It is almost a competition between the two; are the men more affected by their emotional or physical conflicts? Which takes precedence? In many cases, they feed each other, such as Ted Lavender’s use of marijuana and tranquilizers to suppress his anxiety, his fear of the physical dangers. Jimmy Cross seems to have decided that the external conflicts outweigh the internal, as at the end of the story he burns Martha’s picture and vows that no more of his men will die because of his emotional distractions.
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien deals with internal, external and metaphysical conflict, and how the main character Jimmy Cross and his men deal with it. They struggle with the war and their physical environments, along with their heavy emotional burdens. These physical and emotional conflicts both fight for control over each man. The theme of conflict was able to thrive under the setting of the Vietnam War, as the soldiers who fought endured countless struggles. Thus, the true colors of humanity under extreme stress are brought to the forefront during such conflicts.
Source: Tim O'Brien. "The Things They Carried" . 16 Feb. 2012, savanna.auhsd.us/view/26051.pdf.
Externally, conflict is represented by the war in which Cross and his men are fighting. External and physical are synonymous in this context, as these men are in a state of conflict with their physical environment and events that surround them. There is the jungle, with all the insects, the foliage, and the rough terrain which themselves present conflicts to the men. There is also the rain and the heat, the tunnels they must scout, and of course the enemy soldiers. All of these factors force the men to carry several items to deal with these dangers, presenting yet another physical conflict: one between them and the weight they must carry. They carry guns, notably Henry Dobbins, who carries a 23-pound M-60 machine gun and several pounds of ammo. They also carry ponchos, bug repellent, food, water, medical supplies in Rat Kiley’s case, boots and so many other things that both burden and help protect these men from their surroundings. These external conflicts are the most immediately threatening to the lives of the soldiers, made evident by the bullet that ended the life of Ted Lavender.
The internal conflicts facing these men concern emotion. Jimmy Cross’ internal conflict is his love for Martha, a girl he knew before he was sent to Vietnam. He distracts himself with thoughts of Martha, spending much of his time daydreaming and fantasizing about her reciprocating his feelings for her. Later in the story, after Ted Lavender is shot, his emotional conflict morphs into self-loathing and guilt, as he blames himself for what happened because of his focus on Martha as opposed to his men. Furthermore, all of the men struggle with fear. Fear not of dying, however. O’Brien states that “they carried a soldier’s greatest fear, which is the fear of blushing” (O’Brien). These men endure the internal conflict of fear vs. pride. They are too afraid of showing cowardice, of appearing shameful or lacking honor. So they fight, and they die. That is the internal struggle raging inside most of these men: the fear of dying and the fear of dishonor.
The metaphysical conflict refers to the internal and external conflicts interacting with both the men and each other. A conflict between conflicts. It is a very abstract concept, but these internal and external forces each pull at Jimmy Cross and his men. It is almost a competition between the two; are the men more affected by their emotional or physical conflicts? Which takes precedence? In many cases, they feed each other, such as Ted Lavender’s use of marijuana and tranquilizers to suppress his anxiety, his fear of the physical dangers. Jimmy Cross seems to have decided that the external conflicts outweigh the internal, as at the end of the story he burns Martha’s picture and vows that no more of his men will die because of his emotional distractions.
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien deals with internal, external and metaphysical conflict, and how the main character Jimmy Cross and his men deal with it. They struggle with the war and their physical environments, along with their heavy emotional burdens. These physical and emotional conflicts both fight for control over each man. The theme of conflict was able to thrive under the setting of the Vietnam War, as the soldiers who fought endured countless struggles. Thus, the true colors of humanity under extreme stress are brought to the forefront during such conflicts.
Source: Tim O'Brien. "The Things They Carried" . 16 Feb. 2012, savanna.auhsd.us/view/26051.pdf.