The Things They Carried (Chapter 1)

Although I am only finished with chapter 1, I think I am able to say that I already like this book (at least better than The Sun Also Rises). The first chapter was sort of an introduction to the lives of the men and what exactly they carried. The author is very clever with the verb "carry" because he uses the word in more than just one way. It is used not only to describe the physical things the soldiers carried in different situations, but also the mental and psychological thoughts and burdens.

First, Tim O'Brien mentions the personal items the soldiers had with them, like chewing gum and letters from girlfriends. The anaphora used with explaining this adds to the weight of the things that are carried. O'Brien then goes on to explain the military weapons and how much each weighs. Along with this, the items used for missions are also included in the next section. After , the author shares the things the soldiers carried because of superstition, like a good-luck pebble or a rabbit's foot. Next are the things they shared; for example, the weight of memory, the weight of a comrade's body, or the extra gear that someone else couldn't carry. Finally, the author explains how the soldiers carried themselves: how they acted, how they lived. This adds a new depth to the novel, something other than just the physical things they carried, but the emotional things as well.