The Things They Carried
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
I don?t believe that OBrien is a coward for going to war, but the opposite, that he would be a coward for not going to war. I think the reason why he was going to go to Canada was because he doesnt believe in the cause and he thinks he is too talented a student to be forced into battle. Ultimately, he makes the decision to join the army because of what others will think of him, which is not the best reason why someone should go to war, but this shows he?s not a coward and he wouldn?t run away from his country.
In “On the Rainy River,” OBrien thinks of his family, what will they think of him (past, present, future) if he doesnt join the war and he doesnt fight to defend his country. Also if he abandons the country, he will never be able to see them again. When OBrien is fishing with the old man and he “sees” everyone he has ever known or will ever know “judging” him on his decision, he thinks that he is too much of a coward to go against tradition and go
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