The Weight Of Memory Essay

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Sheena M. Bish Dr. Melekian April 30th 2014 The Weight of Memory S. Bish 1 The Weight of Memory The Things They Carried, by author Tim O’Brien, is set during the Vietnam War; the story follows several American soldiers, and their struggles with identity. In the novel, O’Brien illustrates the personal and mental costs of enduring the horrific events of the war; which are capable of changing a person’s character. O’Brien chronicles the items carried by each serviceman and the ways in which the items provide solace during the war. The common survival essentials carried by each man could be used as a means to depict the traditional concept of “uniformity” within a military unit; items like lighters, can openers, wristwatches, pocket knives and canteens of water1 are all a basic means for physical survival. Tim O’Brien demonstrates that simple items like photographs, letters, the Bible, and a diary can help soldiers preserve their humanity: the person they once were. The personal items the serviceman carried allowed them to mentally separate themselves from reality; these items are a ne...

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