The Things They Carried: Tim O Brian Vietnam: Things I remember: David W. Powell The Things They Carried is written by Tim O Brien. It depicts horrors of Vietnam War. Vietnam: What I remember, is an autobiographical account by David W. Powell The title of The Things They Carry suggests the brutal and senseless acts performed in the name of war. It also suggests the horrific memories of war seen by the writer.
The protagonist happens to be a soldier who understands futility of war and man made violence on which he has no command. He fights many inner demons before participating in an actual war. On the other hand, In Vietnam: what I remember is an autobiographical account by a former soldier. He recounts the agonies of many soldiers who are fighting against their will. Ironically, their own kith and kith and kin are ignorant about the sacrifices made by these soldiers. Both these stories have war as a common theme. Their main protagonists are unwanted soldiers.
They were compelled to join a war in an alien territory much against their wishes. These stories reflect the inner turmoil faced by soldiers. It brings out the basic instincts of human nature. Both stories have Vietnam War as a background. These stories show how many wars a soldiers fight within themselves. Comparison: In The things they carried, Lt.
Cross still remembers his love while serving an actual filed duty. In Vietnam: What I remember, the writer continuously thinks about his wife who is enjoying life back home. Both the protagonists understand that their spouses may not be sharing the same feeling as they do. Both lose their friends in enemy fire when the protagonists are deeply in thought about their spouses. They both develop hatred for their uniform because they have first hand exposure to brutalities of war. Both are witness to the extreme acts of revenge by their own colleagues against helpless civilians.
The Essay on The Things They Carried 17
... for their country. Amongst all the things that soldiers carried with them throughout the war, perhaps the thing that they remember most, was the pride of ... courage to go on.The Things They Carried brought to the attention of the reader many things that the soldiers during the Vietnam War carried with them to ...
Both recount that misuse of weaponry led to sense less violence. Because Soldiers are made to understand that only weapons are their best in this obtuse war They are compelled to seek psychological aid aftermath of war. Soldiers fought to upkeep their honor. They did not want to be disgraced as cowards. Both these stories talk against war. They are able to depict the emotional and physical hurt of the soldiers. Both are able to convey that soldiers are not killing machines but human beings with emotional highs and lows.
Differences: Things they carry is a semi fictional account of the horrors of Vietnam War. Unlike, Lt Cross, the writer did not undergo personal problems in the real life. However, Vietnam :What I remember is a true account by a former soldier whose marital , physical and professional life is in shambles after math of war. In things they carry, the protagonist is unmarried who often remember his girl friend. While, in Vietnam: I remember, the protagonist is happily married. In things they carry, there are shades of academic brilliance in the Lt.Cross .However; we do not find much information about the protagonists intellectual tastes. The underlying purpose of Things they carry is shame as a motivation factor.
However, in Vietnam: I remember, inner chaos acts as a motivator..
