The Things They Wore Tim O'BrienThis work of art is a story of war, with love, tragedy and personal responsibility, giving details of what that we carry, survive and think during events that unfold beyond our control. The Thing Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien depicts human beings like us who have no choice in what happens around us but how to survive with the things we hold dear and which help us get by . He also shares with us the fear, risk and consequences of the death of one of their men and the personal responsibility the narrator feels for the loss of one of the men in his care. The setting of the story is integral as it takes place in Than Khe village. The Vietnam War was a tragic and messy war that affected many lives. The setting brings readers to a geographic location where these and countless other men spent months and years experiencing life and death, tragedy and camaraderie, fear, loss, and the ultimate ordeal of character and strength. Without it, the story wouldn't have the same effect. The use of vivid descriptions and images of the things each soldier had with them gives readers a better understanding of the weight and burden these men suffered. The author describes the necessities of what they carried: “The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Necessities or near-necessities included P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat pads, wrist watches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chew gymnastics, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, Kool-Aid packets, lighters, matches, sewing kits, military pay certificates, C rations and two or three canteens of water. (626-627) Not only did they carry these things, but each man had t...... middle of paper ....... He insisted on having clean weapons. He would confiscate the rest of Lavender's drugs. » (636) Tim O'Brien's story depicts the human nature of mistakes, guilt, humility, personal responsibility and the things we can guard against. This doesn't always mean we can control life events, but we can make choices to prevent them. It also shows how we cope with the difficult challenges we face. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross uses Martha to get by, while Ted Lavender uses drugs. Henry Dobbins uses food, while Kiowa relies on his faith. The story gives us insight into war, but also insight into human nature itself. Metafiction in The Things They Carried, Catherine Calloway, http://web.ebscohost.com