The Things We Carried Journal
Adam Torres
9-9-13
C-1/2
Journal
Notes can be defined, as pieces of literature that allow a person to better understand what is at hand. Therefore, in the book “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, it is no coincidence as to why he entitled chapter sixteen “Notes”. O’Brien uses this chapter as a note to help broaden the readers understanding of the books purpose, and more specifically, what O’Brien is really trying to convey instead of a mere war story. It is for this reason that I have chosen this chapter as the most pivotal point in the book. Others argue that this chapter simply serves as background information on the story a of a vet suicide; however, “Notes” holds significance to the rest of the story because it helps the reader really identify O’Brien’s three main arguments in the novel: Reality vs. Fiction, Life vs. Death, and The Power of Storytelling. At first glance, many of the facts in “The Things They Carried” may come off as “the truth”. It is during the chapter “Notes”, however, that O’Brien really goes into depth on how much of the story is actually fiction. How most of what you accepted as the truth, was in fact, simply thought up. It is nothing more than the communication of two imaginations. “Notes” describes in detail the process in which O’Brien wrote chapter 15, “Speaking of Courage”. How “The emotional core came directly from Bowker’s letter”(O’Brien, 152), but also how “For the scenery he borrowed heavily from his own hometown. Wholesale thievery, in fact.”(O’Brien, 152) This illuminates a new side to the reader. A new questioning of what and what not to believe. And if you do decide to believe in something, then who’s to say that it is not true? The answer to that is for the reader to decide.
When writing a true story of war, one will practically always find themselves faced with death. It is almost as if the two are one in the same; War and death that is. For this reason, the conflict of life vs. death is one of biggest
9-9-13
C-1/2
Journal
Notes can be defined, as pieces of literature that allow a person to better understand what is at hand. Therefore, in the book “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, it is no coincidence as to why he entitled chapter sixteen “Notes”. O’Brien uses this chapter as a note to help broaden the readers understanding of the books purpose, and more specifically, what O’Brien is really trying to convey instead of a mere war story. It is for this reason that I have chosen this chapter as the most pivotal point in the book. Others argue that this chapter simply serves as background information on the story a of a vet suicide; however, “Notes” holds significance to the rest of the story because it helps the reader really identify O’Brien’s three main arguments in the novel: Reality vs. Fiction, Life vs. Death, and The Power of Storytelling. At first glance, many of the facts in “The Things They Carried” may come off as “the truth”. It is during the chapter “Notes”, however, that O’Brien really goes into depth on how much of the story is actually fiction. How most of what you accepted as the truth, was in fact, simply thought up. It is nothing more than the communication of two imaginations. “Notes” describes in detail the process in which O’Brien wrote chapter 15, “Speaking of Courage”. How “The emotional core came directly from Bowker’s letter”(O’Brien, 152), but also how “For the scenery he borrowed heavily from his own hometown. Wholesale thievery, in fact.”(O’Brien, 152) This illuminates a new side to the reader. A new questioning of what and what not to believe. And if you do decide to believe in something, then who’s to say that it is not true? The answer to that is for the reader to decide.
When writing a true story of war, one will practically always find themselves faced with death. It is almost as if the two are one in the same; War and death that is. For this reason, the conflict of life vs. death is one of biggest