A War Story is A Love Story

Posted on May 21, 2019 by 20tangd

In the work of fiction The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, the author said that this war story is not about war, it is about love and memory. This is true because if his story is only about war, the story would be incomplete and would make us feel disconnected. After the layers of storytelling, love is mixed into the war story, making it a love story.

When people are telling a story, they tend to add their own emotion and interpretation into the story, which Tim O’Brien describes as story truth. The story of Curt Lemon’s death was told multiple times. In the different versions of the story, the emotion that has been conveyed is different. One of them deals with Rat Kiley’s guilt. He was playing catch with Curt Lemon, and they were “laughing, and then [Curt Lemon] was dead.”(O’Brien 74) From this line, the reader can already predict what Rat Kiley’s feeling was. He loved Curt Lemon, they were good friends, but then Curt Lemon dead. However, What Rat Kiley did was now what the reader is likely to expect —- He tortured a baby buffalo, which made this story more dramatic, and the reader would be like the old woman that questions the story being a love story. It is natural for a writer mixes in emotion and you feel the story has become a love story. Another similar instance is after Kiowa was “under the mud and water, folded in with the war, and [the Alpha Company’s] only thought was to find him and dig him out and then move on to someplace dry and warm.” (O’Brien 155) When other people died, Azar often jokes about them; however, he shut up this time. This shows the importance of Kiowa for them. Kiowa was a figure that was full of love, and the men in Alpha Company loved him. He was like a lubricant for the conflict between the men. The Alpha Company’s action of digging him up no matter what truly reflects their love toward Kiowa, which also shows that love is an important aspect of a war story, therefore, cannot be omitted.  

Some of the stories in the The Things They Carried are started because of love. Love is a important piece in everyone’s life. Under the circumstance of war, love is extremely important. Love gives the soldiers comfort and a sense of hope and home. Henry Dobbins warps his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck every time before he goes onto ambush. “He liked putting his nose into the nylon and breathing in the scent of his girlfriend’s body; he liked the memories this inspired; he sometimes slept with the stockings up against his face, the way an infant sleeps with a flannel blanket, secure and peaceful.” (O’Brien 111) His girlfriend’s pantyhose, which represents his love toward his girlfriend comforts him and gives him a reason to survive the war and come back home and back to his memories. Although her girlfriend left him, “the magic doesn’t go away.”(O’Brien 112).

Love is not only a component of a war story, the reason for a love story and a war story to exist is also the same. Talking or writing about memories is therapeutic. Love stories and war stories make dead people alive and they act as a outlet for pressure. When Tim O’Brien received Norman Bowker’s letter, “it occurred to [O’Brien] that the act of writing had led me through a swirl of memories that might otherwise have ended in paralysis or worse.” (O’Brien 152) Norman Bowker wasn’t able to tell his story which led him to hang himself. Tim O’Brien has realized the magic of storytelling since he was Timmy. He started dreaming about the story, and that story was a love story. His first love, Linda, died suddenly, much like what happens to people in war. Tim O’Brien has realized that by telling the love story, he was able to save all the memories and make dead people alive again in his stories. “[Tim O’Brien ]realize it is as Tim trying to save Timmy’s life with a story.”(O’Brien 233) He saw the similarities between love stories and war stories and made The Things They Carried a love story.

The elements making a love story is similar to those making a war story which is guilt, death, memory, and many more components. Love stories and war stories are functionally and structurally similar, which is the reason for Tim O’Brien to say his story is a love story.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

184 Responses to A War Story is A Love Story

  1. 20tangd says:
    May 21, 2019 at 6:34 pm

    I like that I made a point of love also started war stories. The second paragraph analyzed why love was mixed into a war story and how that is unavoidable. I tied to connect components a love story with a war story and show that they are really similar.

  2. News XMC.pl says:
    April 8, 2026 at 1:02 pm

    Fajnego masz bloga i ciekawe na nim treści, czy na serwerze wszystko się zmieści ? pięknie frazujesz słowa i zmuszasz przy tym do myślenia, tym komentarzem życzę powodzenia 🙂

  7. molchanovonews.ru says:
    May 31, 2026 at 10:26 pm

    References:

    Casino cleveland ohio molchanovonews.ru

  12. linkagogo.trade says:
    June 2, 2026 at 3:12 am

    References:

    Walking stick casino linkagogo.trade

  16. boardgameswiki.site says:
    June 3, 2026 at 1:25 pm

    References:

    Instant Casino Konto erstellen

    References:
    boardgameswiki.site

  17. http://okprint.kz/user/lumberbuffet32/ says:
    June 3, 2026 at 1:26 pm

    References:

    Instant Casino Bonus ohne Einzahlung

    References:
    http://okprint.kz/user/lumberbuffet32/

  18. https://undrtone.com/climbbee34 says:
    June 3, 2026 at 1:27 pm

    References:

    Instant Casino Login vergessen

    References:
    https://undrtone.com/climbbee34

  19. freudwiki.site says:
    June 3, 2026 at 1:28 pm

    References:

    Gewinne bei Instant Casino auszahlen

    References:
    freudwiki.site

  20. https://onlinevetjobs.com says:
    June 3, 2026 at 1:30 pm

    References:

    Instant Casino Kontakt

    References:
    https://onlinevetjobs.com

  33. atavi.com says:
    June 8, 2026 at 3:26 pm

    References:

    North brunswick library atavi.com

  37. http://warblog.hys.cz says:
    June 12, 2026 at 11:37 pm

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino 25 euro bonus ohne einzahlung http://warblog.hys.cz

  45. bookmarkzones.trade says:
    June 19, 2026 at 9:55 am

    References:

    Legiano Casino Gutscheincode bookmarkzones.trade

  49. https://alltrack.org says:
    July 9, 2026 at 12:12 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Meinungen https://alltrack.org

  54. http://cse.google.tk/ says:
    July 9, 2026 at 3:34 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Neukundenbonus http://cse.google.tk/

  55. kartinki.net says:
    July 9, 2026 at 3:39 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino VIP kartinki.net

  56. https://id41.ru/ says:
    July 9, 2026 at 5:24 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Auszahlung https://id41.ru/

  57. images.google.com.ai says:
    July 9, 2026 at 5:32 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Anmelden images.google.com.ai

  58. forum.xnxx.com says:
    July 9, 2026 at 5:49 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Deutschland forum.xnxx.com

  59. hoyot.nnov.org says:
    July 9, 2026 at 6:57 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino PayPal hoyot.nnov.org

  60. jugem.jp says:
    July 9, 2026 at 7:23 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Auszahlungsdauer jugem.jp

  62. cse.google.lt says:
    July 9, 2026 at 8:44 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino No Deposit Bonus cse.google.lt

  64. https://goodmc.ru/ says:
    July 9, 2026 at 9:42 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Gratis Spins https://goodmc.ru/

  66. yami2.xii.jp says:
    July 9, 2026 at 10:06 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Live Casino yami2.xii.jp

  74. https://url.pixelx.one says:
    July 10, 2026 at 10:01 am

    References:

    KingMaker Casino Einzahlung mit Neteller https://url.pixelx.one

  79. http://www.google.hn says:
    July 11, 2026 at 10:39 am

    References:

    KingMaker Casino sicher einzahlen http://www.google.hn

  80. images.google.pn says:
    July 11, 2026 at 5:02 pm

    References:

    Kingmaker Casino Bewertungen images.google.pn

  85. images.google.com.vc says:
    July 11, 2026 at 8:07 pm

    References:

    Legiano Casino Video Review images.google.com.vc

  89. www.google.com.vn says:
    July 11, 2026 at 11:06 pm

    References:

    KingMaker Casino Einzahlung per Neteller http://www.google.com.vn

  91. images.google.vg says:
    July 12, 2026 at 1:05 am

    References:

    KingMaker bonus aktivieren images.google.vg

  93. google.com.kw says:
    July 12, 2026 at 1:32 am

    References:

    Legiano Casino Bonusbedingungen google.com.kw

  97. http://www.google.com.hk says:
    July 12, 2026 at 7:07 pm

    References:

    Monro Casino Bonusbedingungen http://www.google.com.hk

  100. http://www.zmsq.com says:
    July 12, 2026 at 9:41 pm

    References:

    Hitnspin casino kundenbewertungen http://www.zmsq.com

  102. cnttqn.net says:
    July 13, 2026 at 4:49 am

    References:

    Hitnspin online casino cnttqn.net

  103. stat.profintel.ru says:
    July 13, 2026 at 7:44 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino willkommensbonus stat.profintel.ru

  104. plb.moomoo.com says:
    July 13, 2026 at 8:37 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino auszahlung plb.moomoo.com

  106. fmodpro.com says:
    July 13, 2026 at 9:37 am

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino fmodpro.com

  112. imslp.org says:
    July 13, 2026 at 2:26 pm

    References:

    Hit n spin bewertung imslp.org

  116. images.google.me says:
    July 14, 2026 at 4:36 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Live Dealer images.google.me

  118. http://www.google.fi/ says:
    July 14, 2026 at 5:24 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino No Deposit Bonus http://www.google.fi/

  122. https://mcpedl.com/ says:
    July 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Live Dealer https://mcpedl.com/

  128. clients1.google.co.za says:
    July 16, 2026 at 1:52 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino bonus code clients1.google.co.za

  129. clients1.google.com.cu says:
    July 16, 2026 at 3:20 am

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino 25 euro code clients1.google.com.cu

  131. clients1.google.co.za says:
    July 16, 2026 at 8:59 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino aktionscode clients1.google.co.za

  133. maps.google.co.bw says:
    July 16, 2026 at 7:13 pm

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino maps.google.co.bw

  136. thefusionflix.com says:
    July 17, 2026 at 11:18 am

    References:

    Best instant payid pokies australia real money https://thefusionflix.com/@lilian75h6834?page=about

  138. iamzoyah.com says:
    July 17, 2026 at 6:10 pm

    References:

    New payid pokies iamzoyah.com

  141. internship.af says:
    July 17, 2026 at 7:38 pm

    References:

    Best instant payid pokies australia real money internship.af

  144. clients1.google.td says:
    July 18, 2026 at 9:09 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Betrug clients1.google.td

  147. http://maps.google.cv says:
    July 18, 2026 at 9:38 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Willkommensbonus http://maps.google.cv

  148. https://chuu.co.kr says:
    July 18, 2026 at 9:52 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Startguthaben https://chuu.co.kr

  150. testtt says:
    July 23, 2026 at 5:58 pm

    commen 2

  152. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:29 pm

    It’s a thoughtful reflection on the balance between enjoying สล็อตเติม True Wallet ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ

  154. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:41 pm

    excellent space for students. 918KISS AUTO

  155. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:42 pm

    we do in advertising and marketing. PUSSY888 เว็บตรง

  157. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:46 pm

    operations, SLOTXO AUTO

  158. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:48 pm

    you don’t mind. AMB Slot

  160. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:52 pm

    Are you passionate about new horror 918KISS เว็บ มาใหม่

  161. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    or shoot the cop before he catches you! JOKER WALLET

  163. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:08 pm

    New Jersey I received a traffic ticket while visiting New Jersey. LIVE22 AUTO WALLET

  164. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:11 pm

    Regardless if they are men or women, 918KISS AUTO WALLET

  165. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:13 pm

    it prevents all those annoying ads from showing up in between, SLOT WALLET ทุกค่าย

  167. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:21 pm

    I hope for the best outcome of your site. MEGA888 SLOT AUTO

  169. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:25 pm

    That’s a good concept. JILI SLOT WALLET

  170. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:26 pm

    2023 yang memiliki banyak hadiah dan diskon Pussy888ทรูวอลเล็ท

  171. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:31 pm

    Thanks for clearing my concept. Slot Wallet Auto

  172. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:33 pm

    I think ai is the future you discussed this topic really well. เว็บหวยออนไลน์ เว็บตรง ฝากวอเลท

  173. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:34 pm

    Nice content you have here, Betflix Wallet

  174. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:36 pm

    But one thing i would like to say this is taking a main part สล็อตออนไลน์

  175. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:39 pm

    kept me engaged throughout my visit. เว็บสล็อตออโต้

  176. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:41 pm

    Media Planner with many satisfied clients above the per Campaign. เว็บมวยวอเลท

  178. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:49 pm

    media was also useful for online ordering, SLOT AUTO WALLET

  179. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:49 pm

    kamyonlara kadar pek çok seçenek var. nil

  180. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:51 pm

    amazing You have explained each everything very well in detail. nil

  182. nagavip says:
    July 23, 2026 at 11:57 pm

    crafted FMWhatsApp to provide users with a distinctive เว็บสล็อตวอเลท ออโต้

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *