Summary
Published in 1990, Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried has become one of the most influential, highly acclaimed, and widely-read works about the Vietnam War. This collection of linked short stories draws on O'Brien's own experiences as a soldier, blending fact and fiction to explore the physical and emotional burdens carried by those who fought.
Plot
The Things They Carried follows a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. It opens by describing the various items, both tangible and intangible, that the soldiers carry with them—ranging from weapons and supplies to emotional burdens like fear, love, and grief. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the platoon leader, carries letters and photos from a woman named Martha, though his preoccupation with her leads to tragedy when one of his men is killed.
As the book progresses, the stories recount soldiers’ various experiences, blending elements of memoir and history with fiction. Some key events include Tim O'Brien's near-decision to flee to Canada to avoid the draft, the death of a young Vietnamese man that haunts O'Brien, and the loss of soldiers like Kiowa in horrific battlefield conditions.
Throughout the book, O'Brien reflects on the nature of truth and storytelling. He argues that the factual truth of war stories is often less important than their emotional truth and power to convey the experience of war. This theme is exemplified in stories like “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” where a soldier's girlfriend comes to Vietnam and gradually goes native, highlighting the transformative and surreal nature of the war.
The Things They Carried concludes with O'Brien reflecting on how storytelling allows him to keep alive the memories of those he lost, including his childhood friend Linda, who died of cancer, as well as fellow soldiers killed in combat. By telling these stories, O'Brien suggests that he can partially redeem the senseless deaths and trauma of the war, preserving the humanity of those who experienced it.
Themes
Blurred lines between truth and fiction
The long-term emotional and psychological impact of war
Coping with trauma and guilt
Loss of innocence and coming of age
Moral ambiguity in wartime
Power of storytelling and memory
Setting
Set primarily during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, The Things They Carried takes place in the jungles and villages of Vietnam, as well as small-town America before and after the war. The stories shift between these settings, contrasting the harsh realities of combat with the struggles of soldiers readjusting to civilian life.
The bulk of the story unfolds in Vietnam's war-torn landscape, with vivid descriptions of rice paddies, dense forests, and tiny hamlets. Tim O'Brien paints a visceral picture of the physical and emotional terrain American soldiers had to navigate. Key locations include the Song Tra Bong river, where one character's girlfriend undergoes a surreal transformation, and a muddy field near the village of My Khe, which becomes the site of profound loss and guilt for several characters.
Beyond Vietnam, the book also explores the impact of the war on American soil. We see characters grappling with their experiences in places like Iowa and Massachusetts. These domestic scenes serve to highlight the lasting psychological effects of the conflict and the difficulty many veterans faced in reconciling their wartime experiences with civilian life. Through this juxtaposition of settings, O'Brien creates a comprehensive portrait of the war's far-reaching consequences.
Characters
Tim O'Brien: The narrator and protagonist, a writer and Vietnam War veteran. O'Brien grapples with the blurred lines between truth and fiction as he tells stories about the war. He struggles with guilt and trauma from his time as a soldier.
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross: The leader of Alpha Company. Cross is preoccupied with thoughts of Martha, a girl from back home, which distract him from his duties.
Norman Bowker: A soldier who struggles to adjust to civilian life after the war. Bowker feels isolated and unable to communicate his experiences to others.
Kiowa: A compassionate and perceptive Native American soldier. Kiowa serves as a moral compass and confidant for other soldiers.
Rat Kiley: The platoon's medic. Kiley tells outlandish stories and struggles with the horrors of war.
Mitchell Sanders: The company's radio operator. Sanders often relates strange, supernatural tales about the war. He helps interpret events for other soldiers.
Henry Dobbins: A machine gunner known for his large size and gentle nature.
Azar: A young soldier who engages in senseless acts of violence. Azar's behavior reveals how war can bring out the worst in people.
Ted Lavender: A soldier whose death haunts Lieutenant Cross.
Curt Lemon: A soldier killed by stepping on a landmine.
Quick facts
The Things They Carried is based on Tim O'Brien's experiences as a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
O'Brien intentionally blurs the line between fiction and memoir, calling the work “metafiction."
O'Brien includes himself as a character in the book.
Published in 1990, The Things They Carried was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award.
Several of the short stories were originally published in Esquire magazine before being collected into the book.
The Things They Carried has sold more than two million copies worldwide.
One of the stories, “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," was adapted into a film called A Soldier's Sweetheart in 1998.
A film version of the book, directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Tom Hardy, is in pre-production as of early 2025.
Bryan Cranston, star of Breaking Bad, narrates the audiobook version, which includes an exclusive recording of O'Brien reading “The Vietnam in Me," about his return trip to Vietnam in 1994.
About the Author
Tim O'Brien (1946-) is an acclaimed American writer best known for his works on the Vietnam War. Drafted into the US Army fresh out of college, he served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. This experience profoundly shaped his literary career, providing the foundation for much of his work. His breakthrough came with his 1978 novel Going After Cacciato, which won the National Book Award. However, it was his 1990 book The Things They Carried that cemented his reputation as one of America's foremost writers of war and its personal toll. Hailed as “a classic of contemporary war fiction” (The New York Times), this collection of stories was a finalist for both Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award.
Throughout his career, O'Brien has explored themes of memory, truth, and the lasting impact of war on individuals and society. His unique writing style often blurs the line between fact and fiction, challenging readers to consider the nature of truth in storytelling. His novels include In the Lake of the Woods (1995), Tomcat in Love (1998), and July, July (2002). He has also published memoirs, including If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home (1973) and Dad's Maybe Book (2019).
Beyond his writing, O'Brien has contributed to the literary community as an educator. From 2003 to 2012, he held an endowed chair in the MFA program at Texas State University–San Marcos, teaching creative writing every other academic year. O'Brien's work continues to be widely read and studied, offering powerful insights into the experiences of soldiers and the long-lasting effects of war.
