Things They Carried Essay American Heroes - 864 Words

The Things They Carried: American Heroesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Speaking of Courage in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried, is more than a story about a soldiers personal experience of the Vietnam War. It is more than a story about his fight for his country, God, and fellow soldiers, and not to mention his return home. Speaking of Courage is not only an allegorical story about the disconnection between Vietnam and the rest of the world, but also an allegory about the disconnection between the soldiers and the life they once led. nbsp; Norman Bowkers flashback of Song Tra Bong, sets up the story for cultural analysis. The monsoon signifies the war as a whole, as it causes violence to spill over the entire world. Over†¦show more content†¦When Bowker returns home from the war, he drives around the town and begins thinking about the lake within the town that divides the more valuable and the less expensive homes. The more valuable homes are set on the lake, and the less valuable are across the road. On page 138 OBrien explains it is the difference between watching the sun set over cornfields or over water, and he explains that the town views the lake as a source of pride. Culturally speaking, this symbolizes the division between Vietnam and the rest of the world. In America, where war is historically a source of pride, humanity does not wake up to gunshots and dead soldiers. In Vietnam; however, dead soldiers and gunshots are a reality and even normality. Vietnam was a place of war and death. America and oth er countries only experienced the war through the media. When Norman Bowker returns home, he is faced with the town that was once familiar and the people he once knew and even understood. Now he is someone different, someone who is emotionally scared from the vulgar reality he lived. Bowker begins thinking about Max Arnolds death and how Sally Kramer has moved on her life. This exemplifies how the world kept on living while the soldiers were stuck fighting for their life. However, people are not the only thing that has changed in Bowkers hometown, technology has also madeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Claude Mckay s Harlem1688 Words   |  7 Pages Home Search Essays FAQs Lost Essay? Contact Essay Color Key Free Essays Unrated Essays Better Essays Stronger Essays Powerful Essays Term Papers Research Papers Privacy Our Guarantee Popular Essays Excellent Essays Free Essays A-F Free Essays G-L Free Essays M-Q Free Essays R-Z Essay Topics Plagiarism Donate a Paper Related Essays - Claude McKay s Harlem Shadows - Claude McKay s Harlem Shadows During the Harlem RenaissanceRead MoreThe Stereotypes Of Racial Stereotypes Essay1524 Words   |  7 PagesRacial stereotypes have always been a serious issue in society. The stereotypes impact many aspects of our life. 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