Shame In The Things They Carried

Tessa Jones
Mrs. Buzanis
Honors English 10 Per 4
6 February 2023
Impact of Guilt In Life (Th) In Tim O’Brien’s 1990 metafictional novel The Things They Carried, the author answers the question of how guilt affects the relationships that one has in their life because of the fear of disappointing those they love. (M) The author raises the question of how shame can impact the thoughts and actions of one's life, and answers this question through experiences characters live through in the novel. Their experience in the war impacts them for the rest of their life because of the trauma that it causes them. The war limits them from living a successful life in the future because they are so focused on the past. (Pt) The character, Tim O'Brien, struggles

The surroundings, of chaos and gore and hatred, deeply impact him. (CE) There were some instances in his life where he is afraid to admit to his past and to things he had done in the war. (DE) In one instance he mentions something he could never tell to anyone, “Not to [his] parents, not to [his] brother or sister, not even to [his] wife” (O’Brien 37). (A) This is an answer to the question of how shame has the power to impact one's life. Shame impacts the lives of everyone because it brings a burden and worry and stress of disappointing those one loves. If Tim had talked about this situation he experienced during the war, he could have relieved some of the stress. However, he worries about the insults he could have received, so he chose not to tell. (CE) Before O'Brien heard about the war, he realized the war was something he did not want to participate in. (DE) He says to himself that [he] would not swim away from [his] hometown and [his] country and [his] life. [He] would not be brave” (O’Brien 55). (A) Although many

To answer O'Brien's question of how embarrassment impacts the lives and relationships that one has, shame has the power to control one’s life. (CE) During the war, Tim faces the tragedy of having to end the life of someone on the other side of the war. (DE) He talks to the reader and mentions how “even now [he] hasn't finished sorting it out. Sometimes [he] forgives himself, other times [he] doesn’t” (O’Brien 128). (A) Even though several years have allowed some healing in his body, that single moment in time continues to haunt him. This goes to answer the question that O'Brien introduces that although sometimes there is little regret in one's mind, it will never completely go away. (CE) O'Brien continues his remarks by remembering many occurrences in the war. (DE) He teaches that it “had no memory, therefore no guilt” (O’Brien 137). (A) Tim forces himself to forget certain parts or particular experiences that he had in the war. This allows him to breathe a little and limit some of the guilt that he feels. If he doesn't remember things, he can't regret them because he didn't experience them. Although deep down, he recognizes the truth or lack of truth in war stories, it allows him to feel more joy and less shame. (CE) Furthermore, he seems to force himself to forget or deny that he killed a man, but he still recognizes that he stood there at that moment in time. (DE) He knew that he “was