Stories of the Vietnam War

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Tim O'Brien's short story "The Things They Carried" presents many examples of the psychological loss of innocence of a young soldier; similarly, in Louise Erdrich's "The Red Convertible," the reader becomes acquainted with the effects of war after returning home. The author points out that, in both works, the trauma, which a young soldier experiences, is made painfully real. The paper stresses that, in most cases, the family member they send off is not the family member who returns; they are forever changed psychologically just as the war-torn and battle-scarred characters in these stories will forever carry the trauma of their experiences in their backpacks of life.

From the Paper:

"In "The Things They Carried" the reader becomes aware of the emotional strain and weight a soldier endures during the war. Rather than taking place after the war like "The Red Convertible," the strongest part of the plot is within the boundaries of war. Being in combat so young completely changes the soldiers. The man in command, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, is only 22 years old. "As first lieutenant and platoon leader, Jimmy Cross carried a compass, maps, codebooks, binoculars, and a .45 caliber pistol that weighed 2.9 pounds fully loaded. He carried a strobe light and the responsibility of his men." "

More papers on Stories of the Vietnam War:

• Research Paper # 145027 : "Looking Back at the Vietnam War"
• Term Paper # 145064 : "Effects of Communication and Technology on the American War Effort During Vietnam"
• Essay # 46792 : "The Vietnam Soldier"

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