The Things They Carried

Vietnam

Tim O’Brien

Vietnam War

1941: Ho Chi Minh returns to Vietnam after exile

1945: France attempts to regain control of Saigon

1946-1954: Ho Chi Minh negotiates with France over independence

Vietnam War

Divided Nation:• North – Communist who advocated

independence – wanted to unify country

• South – worked with France

1965: America sends troops to help South defeat North

Vietnam War

58,000 Americans dead ~150 Billion dollars – cost of America Wanted to keep communism from

spreading – domino theory Guerrilla Warfare

• Surprise attacks, ambushes, bombings, no clear enemy, terrorist in nature

Vietnam Views

Proponents: • Keep communism from spreading

• Protection from Soviet Power

• Treaty obligation – Geneva – 1954• Maintain colonial power over French Indonesia

• Use as a buffer state in Asia

• No point of rescuing them from Japan if handed over to communism

Vietnam Views Opposition:

• Not obligated under Geneva treaty to help

• Civil War – no right to intervene

• Vietnam chose not to honor Geneva treaty

• No Chinese threat – long history of China and Vietnam animosity

• South wanted unification

• No democracy in Vietnam

• Bad military tactics – napalm, ambushes, etc.

Post Vietnam

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:• Frightening thoughts and memories

• Lack of emotional attachments to others

• Sleep disorders

• Easily startled

• Nightmares/flashbacks

• Psychiatric problems

• Lack of interest in life

~ 30% of Vietnam Veterans

Vocabulary

Dynamic character – changes in story Static character – does not change First Person Narration – narrated by O’Brien;

limited perspective Flashback/Flash-forward: going back in time

or going into present. Indirect Characterization: when author

provides details in which the reader makes assumptions about a character’s personality.

Themes

The justification of killing Loss of a friend Isolation Corruption of war Inability to adjust back to normal life Individual consequences of war Racism as a coping mechanism