The Things They Carry By Tim O Brien Literary Analysis

In the novel, The Things They Carry by author Tim O’Brien, O’Brien explores the distinction between reality and fiction. Many readers find it difficult when deciphering the actual genre on the novel, for the reason that the story is based from true events, but told inaccurately. The main character and narrator, Tim O’Brien, constructs this novel with a collection of war stories from the Vietnam War; which are told by actual war veterans and their experiences. However, the morals and truths of these told stories blur the distinction of reality and fiction. Through O’Brien’s interpretations of his feeling to the reader, O’Brien’s novel distorts the once-clear line between fact and fiction.
When deciphering between the lines of truth vs. fiction, it’s difficult for the reader to interpret what the fiction aspect of the novel is. What it

means to blur between truth and fiction lies within this statement, “In any war story, but especially a true one, it’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen.” (O’Brien, pg. 76) O’Brien states this in the perspective of the soldiers in war, meaning how the soldiers tend to exaggerate what was witness. Mainly, the purpose of over-emphasizing each story the soldiers tell represents how an event significantly impacted their life. For instance, what exactly happened during a certain event is not accurate in the way it is told through the perspective of the soldier. O’Brien explains how it is difficult for people, who didn’t witness the war in person, to understand the horrifying and unspeakable events that took place. That is why O’Brien suggests that readers should question the credibility of any war story. “Often the crazy stuff is true and the normal stuff isn’t, because the normal stuff is necessary to make you believe the truly incredible craziness.” (O’Brien, pg. 68) This statement is quoted from the chapter, “How to Tell a True War Story”, demonstrates how O’Brien wants the reader to understand the fiction aspect of his novel.
Authors, like Tim O’Brien, use the genre of autobiographical fiction for reasons of helping the reader understand the author’s emotion and to create character in the story.

One of the most significant ways for O’Brien to relate his war experience through the reader is to embellish the truth of the story. By doing this, O’Brien is able to add dialog between characters, spark interest to the reader, and add personality to the book. O’Brien’s purpose for writing false information from true events is because O’Brien doesn’t want the book to be just factual information. In this way, the factual information in any war story can be unrelatable to the reader. The fiction aspect of the novel makes it more appealing and understanding to the reader. “But listen. Even that story is made up. I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth.” (O’Brien, pg. 171) Through this statement, O’Brien discuss how he uses fiction to help to reader understand his emotions. For the intention of connection O’Brien’s perspective to the reader, he utilizes the genre of autobiographical

fiction.
So, what’s true in the story and what’s not? There are a few instances where O’Brien is speaking in first person and blatantly states, “This is true.” (O’Brien, pg. 64) In the chapter, “How to Tell a True War Story”, O’Brien refers to a true event he witnessed with his friend Rat Kiley. Rat’s good friend, Curt Lemon, died in a tragic accident, and then Rat writes a sincere letter to Curt’s sister about how terrific Curt was a friend to Rat. Sadly, he doesn’t receive any type of response from Curt’s sister; he refers to her as “The dumb cooze.” (O’Brien, pg. 65) The significance of mentioning this true event validates how O’Brien believes that there is always a bizarre aspect in a war story, which makes the story seem untrue. This example demonstrates the reality of O’Brien’s novel that relates to the genre of autobiographical fiction.