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War's Ability to Self-Discover


            
             In The Things They Carried Many characters have their unique ways with dealing with war. Tim O"Brien, the author, shows how the characters go through the adversities of war. Each character has their individual experience, and the outcome can be positive or negative. War has a powerful ability to change a person's view of life. War can also bring out qualities or underlying issues that are hidden in a person. Basically, war has the ability to allow a person to discover who they are. Self-discovery is when a person is aware of their true potential, character, or motives. This occurs in many character's lives throughout the book. The experience of war leads to Tim O"Brien's, Mary Anne's, and Norman Bowker's self discovery. .
             Tim O"Brien's inner struggle with going to war alters the view he has of himself. In the novel, he is tempted to run away to Canada because he does not want to go to war in Vietnam. His main concern is the humiliation he has to face if he does not go. "I feared the war, yes, but I also feared exile. I was afraid of walking away from my own life, my friends and my family, my whole history, everything that mattered to me. I feared losing the respect of my parents (44)." This quote shows how O"Brien's conscience will not rest until he admits that he is afraid of how people will perceive him. Also, he must face their reaction if he decides to leave. During this time, he begins to think of the heroes he admired as a boy. Now, when it is time for him to have courage like those heroes, he has none. He thinks he is a coward for going to a war he hates, but he still cares about the people that will judge his actions. "I would not do what I should do. I would not swim away from my hometown and my country and my life (57)." This is an example of how being brave is not worth losing people's respect. "I was ashamed of my conscience, ashamed to be doing the right thing (52)." Shame and embarrassment are two emotions that make him resist the desire of running away.


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