Tim O Brien Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In this chapter Tim O’Brien effectively explores the conflict between society's perception of war versus a true war story. O'Brien challenges society's perception of war as a glorified piece of art, and those who go off to war are men with great morals, true brave-hearts, to lay their life on the line to protect their family and friends from the enemy, however he labels their perception instead a great misconception. According to Tim O'Brien, a true war story does not contain glory, morals, or the divine truth because "A true war story is never moral. it does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men from doing the things men have always done" (The Things They Carried 68). Tim O'Brien effectively manipulates narrative structure in order to appeal to our emotions. O'Brien gives us the twisted truth in order for us to realize the ultimate truth about war; and once we are conscious of the ultimate truth we can begin to fully understand why morals do not exist in true war stories. O'Brien makes us realize that we need to remove the rose colored glasses we wear so that we can realize, that we can not generalize the truth that war has an "uncompromising allegiance

to obscenity and evil" (The Things They Carried 69). so the next question becomes, does he continue this through the entire book or does he give us the hardcore truth
Through the chapter On a Rainy River Tim O'Brien effectively manipulates narrative structure, in hopes of getting his readers to better understand why young men go off to war, and that we need to change our way of thought in order to educate future young men from going to war because it seems to be something to do based upon society's misconception that war will make you a man, and it will make you look cool, instead convey that war is hell from the first day you join.

in the novel so far we are given countless examples of young men wishing that they were home holding their family, lovers, and children close to them. in this chapter we are asked the question what is moral judgement? And do we as a society follow moral judgement or do we follow the

leader?
This quote is important because it expresses the struggle to maintain a connection to civilization and sanity. Tim O'Brien purposely give us this quote to attract his audience and get them to connect to the book emotional; causing his audience, the readers, to feel sympathy for the soldiers. The list of what the soldiers carried is connected back into the title of the book and chapter using the phrase "the things they carried". While reading the first chapter, two questions I had were, why doesn't he say the things we carried he was in he bargade as well? And, Why does Tim O'Brien choose this memorable moment to connect this quote back to to title of the book and chapter, does he do this though out the entire book. As a readers continue to read this chapter they become more engrossed and fascinated with the characters and memories of what happens during the war. the first chapter is a great introduction into what this book is really about. What the men did to survive a place described as a jungle that is closest to hell as possible.