The+Things+They+Carried+Meeting+3

Theme/Imagery- Loneliness. Throughout the entire war and even after the war, the soldiers felt a sense of loneliness. For example, O'Brien's, "The Things They Carried" was a way for him to combat his isolation and loneliness post Vietnam War. Also, Cross is lonely because all of the hope that he had in Martha is now lost after she rejected him. When the soldiers were fighting, the sense of being far away from home and the people they love made them feel lonely and distant. They all had fear within them and were fighting the fear in order to survive. Another example supporting their loneliness is when they are on listening patrol and hear strange noises, they bring that back home with them and it emphasizes how the imagination can take over instantly in the lonely silence.

In the Section "Good Form," why does O'Brien contradict himself when answering Kathleen's questions? The narrator contradicts himself to throw off the readers. Tim wants to show that it is not a justified fact. But how the readers view the story, determine wether it is true or not.

As the book came to a close, are there any characters that you feel you connected with? I felt connected with Tim. If i was in his place, I probably would have done the same thing. I would have second guessed about fighting in a war with a cause I do not support. I also would have lived through the scars he already had after being there for 4 days, the way he did.

Why does Dave Jensen poke fun at old man's dead body in the village that they burned? He pokes fun at the village because they fired at the platoon and have no respect for the enemy. He encourages O'Brien too laugh as well and says "show a little respect for your elders," but O'Brien refuses. O'Brien ends up being sickened for the rest of the day at the sight of Jensen's act with the body.

__**Summary:**__ Overall during the meeting, we came to the conclusion that the book was trying to focus on not just the physical but emotional hardships of going into war. You not feel lonely from leaving your home, family, and friends but also the burdens of all your fellow deceased soldiers. We also feel as if it was stressing on the factor of maybe not coming home to your home and family. We thought this because constantly they had things reminding them of being back home with loved ones.

__**Ending:**__ The book ended with Tim going into details about, "The Lives of the Dead." He described all the things the soldiers used to do to keep their dead comrades alive in their memories. They would create a fake incident to cope, rather than just believe he is dead. He also spoke about his love at nine years-old with Linda, and how he knew it was real love. He said "I wanted to live inside her body. I wanted to melt into her bones, that kind of love" (Tim O'Brien pg.228). Weeks later, he gets the news that Linda had passed away. Ever since that day, Tim dreams of her and makes her alive in his dreams. He states that when he dreams of her, she says "Well, right now I'm not dead" (Tim O'Brien pg.245).