Tim O'brien's Inner Turmoil: A Screw Loose?

In his book 'The Things They Carried', Tim O'Brien explores the experiences of soldiers in the Vietnam War, weaving a thread of memory throughout the work. O'Brien, a veteran himself, uses storytelling as a means of coping with his memories of the war. One of the stories in the book, titled 'The Dentist', focuses on a character named Curt Lemon, who is uncomfortable with dentists but comfortable with the violence of war. Lemon's embarrassment about fainting at the dentist drives him to act in an unusual way, providing insight into the complex psychology of soldiers and the weight of shame.

Curt Lemon's embarrassment and shame

Curt Lemon, a soldier in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, is embarrassed and ashamed by his fear of dentists. Lemon, who is described as a tough soldier, is comfortable with the violence and gore of combat but is terrified of someone touching his teeth. This fear is so intense that he faints before the dentist can even examine him.

Lemon's embarrassment and shame lead him to take drastic action. In the middle of the night, he wakes the dentist and insists that he has a horrible toothache. Despite finding no issues, the dentist eventually gives in to Lemon's demands and pulls out one of his healthy teeth. Lemon believes that by overcoming his fear, he is proving his bravery and maintaining his reputation.

O'Brien highlights the irony of the situation, noting that healthy teeth won't save you in battle. He also suggests that Lemon's actions are driven by his desire to redeem himself in the eyes of his comrades. The embarrassment of fainting has "turned a screw in his head," leading Lemon to take extreme measures to save face.

Lemon's story serves as an example of the mental burdens carried by soldiers during the Vietnam War. They are afraid of dying but even more afraid of showing their fear, as society expects men to be strong and insensitive. O'Brien explores the shame and guilt associated with war and how it influences the decisions and actions of those involved.

The impact of Curt Lemon's death on O'Brien

In Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried", the impact of Curt Lemon's death on O'Brien is complex and multifaceted. O'Brien's narrative style, which blurs the lines between fiction and reality, adds a layer of complexity to understanding the full extent of Lemon's death. However, it is clear that Lemon's death had a significant effect on O'Brien, both as a narrator and a character within the story.

Firstly, Lemon's death serves as a stark reminder of the horrors and unpredictability of war. As a fellow soldier, O'Brien would have been confronted with the fragility of human life and the constant presence of death in a war zone. This is reflected in O'Brien's narrative, which often centres around the theme of mortality and the heavy burden carried by soldiers, both physically and mentally.

Secondly, Lemon's death may have triggered feelings of guilt and shame in O'Brien, similar to the emotions he experienced when recounting his own actions during the war. O'Brien's writing is characterised by a struggle to come to terms with his memories and actions, and Lemon's death could have exacerbated these feelings. The sudden and violent nature of Lemon's death, killed by a booby-trapped 105 round, would have been a stark and traumatic event for O'Brien to witness and process.

Additionally, Lemon's death may have impacted O'Brien's perception of himself and his own actions during the war. O'Brien's narrative often explores the complexities of human behaviour in extreme situations, and how rational thinking can be distorted by the horrors of war. Lemon's death could have served as a catalyst for O'Brien to reflect on his own experiences and question his own actions and decisions.

Furthermore, Lemon's death could have influenced O'Brien's views on the nature of truth and storytelling. O'Brien's writing style, as seen in "The Things They Carried", often blurs the lines between "story-truth" and "happening-truth", suggesting that emotional truth can sometimes be more powerful than factual truth. Lemon's death, and the impact it had on O'Brien, may have reinforced this belief and encouraged him to explore the power of storytelling in processing traumatic events.

Lastly, Lemon's death could have had a personal impact on O'Brien, given their shared experiences as soldiers in the Vietnam War. O'Brien's writing often reflects on the weight of his own experiences and the burden of carrying those memories. Lemon's death may have triggered feelings of camaraderie and shared trauma, further complicating O'Brien's emotional response to his fellow soldier's death.

In conclusion, Curt Lemon's death had a significant impact on O'Brien, both as a narrator and a character within "The Things They Carried". It served as a reminder of the horrors of war, triggered complex emotions, influenced his views on truth and storytelling, and prompted personal reflections on his own experiences during the Vietnam War.

O'Brien's views on storytelling

Tim O'Brien's views on storytelling are informed by his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War. He uses storytelling as a means of coping with the trauma of war and coming to terms with the horrors he witnessed. In his work, O'Brien blurs the line between fiction and reality, using details from his life but framing them in a self-conscious or metafictional narrative voice. He suggests that "story-truth" (the truth of fiction) can sometimes be "truer" than "happening-truth" (the truth of facts).

O'Brien believes that stories can reveal emotional truths that are more profound than factual accounts. In his writing, he explores the impact of war on soldiers, both during and after their service. He writes about the physical and mental burdens they carry and how their experiences change them. O'Brien's stories often serve as a bridge between the experiences of soldiers and civilians, highlighting the universal human condition.

O'Brien's writing process involves a meticulous crafting of sentences and a focus on language. He spends many hours rewriting and editing to meet his artistic standards. He views writing as a passion and an art form, and his honesty and emotional depth resonate with readers.

O'Brien also acknowledges the limitations of storytelling. He recognises that certain realities cannot be fully explained or expressed, and that there are some feelings that even stories cannot convey. Despite this, he continues to write, driven by the belief that stories can offer solace, inspiration, and healing.

O'Brien's personal experience in the Vietnam War

Tim O'Brien, born in 1946, served as a soldier in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1968, the same year he graduated with a BA in political science from Macalester College. O'Brien served in the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment, part of the 23rd Infantry Division (the Americal Division).

O'Brien's personal experiences in the Vietnam War have been a significant source of inspiration for his writing. His book "The Things They Carried" is a collection of semi-autobiographical stories inspired by his time in the war. The book includes stories about the physical and emotional burdens carried by soldiers, the psychological effects of battle, and the complexities of war.

O'Brien has spoken about the shame and guilt associated with the war, which influenced his decision to fight despite his principles telling him to run away. He has also discussed the impact of his experiences on his perspective and emotions, stating that writing about the war brought him closer to it and the people he knew during that time.

In addition to "The Things They Carried," O'Brien has written other works exploring the postwar lives of Vietnam veterans, such as "Going After Cacciato," which won the National Book Award in 1979. Through his writing, O'Brien aims to capture the human heart and provide readers with an intimate experience of war.

O'Brien's coping mechanisms

Tim O'Brien's book, 'The Things They Carried', is a collection of semi-autobiographical stories inspired by his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War. O'Brien's writing is a coping mechanism in and of itself, as he uses storytelling to come to terms with the horrors he witnessed as a soldier.

O'Brien's writing also blurs the line between fiction and reality. He uses details from his life but frames them in a self-conscious narrative voice. This is seen in the story "Good Form," where O'Brien discusses the distinction between "story-truth" and "happening-truth". He suggests that story-truth is an emotional truth and that the emotions created by a fictional story are sometimes truer than what results from reading the facts. This blurring of reality is another coping mechanism, allowing O'Brien to process his experiences at a distance.

O'Brien's characters also exhibit their own coping mechanisms. Curt Lemon, for example, is a tough soldier who is comfortable with the gore and death of combat but is terrified of dentists. After fainting during a dental exam, Lemon is ashamed and embarrassed, worried about how this will affect his macho reputation. To cope with his embarrassment, Lemon wakes the dentist up in the middle of the night and demands that he pull out a healthy tooth. By doing this, Lemon feels he has overcome his fear and redeemed himself, proving his bravery and maintaining his reputation.

O'Brien also explores the theme of shame and guilt throughout the book, particularly in relation to the soldiers' reasons for going to war. Many of the men are afraid of dying but are even more afraid of showing it, hiding their true fears under a mask of humour or enthusiasm. They go to war to save their reputations, risking their lives because refusing to fight would mean cowardice. O'Brien himself battles with this, ultimately choosing to go to war out of shame and fear of disgrace, even though his morals are against it.

Through his writing, O'Brien is able to explore and process the complexities of his experiences in the Vietnam War, including the emotional burdens and psychological impacts that soldiers carry with them long after the war is over.

Frequently asked questions